Susan G. Komen Generates Money for the Cure and Also for the Economy

There is no one that does cause marketing better than Susan G. Komen for the Cure. The cause is curing breast cancer, and October, National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, is the peak of Komen's fundraising activity.

From 3M to the Republic of Tea to M&M, New Balance, and Yoplait, the list of Komen's 178 corporate partners just goes on and on. Powered by the dedication of breast cancer survivors and activists, Komen has, since 1982, taken off like a rocket becoming the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer.

But, not only does Komen's fundraising aid medical research and treatment in the area of breast cancer, it also contributes immensely to our economy. Tripp Umbach, the nation's leading provider of economic impact research, recently did a study on Komen for the Cure's impact on the economy and found that Komen's activities:

• Added more than $296 million to the U.S. economy through its funding of life-saving research.

• Komen for the Cure's corporate partner products and programs generated $398.4 million in economic impact.

• The Race for the Cure Series--a race that draws millions each year and recognizes its 25th anniversary this year--had an impact of $779 million.

• For benchmarking purposes, the Super Bowl has an average impact of $350 million on its host city, while the 1996 Summer Olympics had an impact of $1.2 billion.

But that is not all. There is a significant impact on the U.S. economy for each productive year that a person lives. Cancer research, funded by Komen, is estimated to save an estimated 4,555 persons in 2007. Assuming that the value of each productive adult year equals roughly $65,000, in 2007 Komen added more than $296,000,000 to the U.S. economy through the efforts of life-saving research.

Perhaps Congress should think about the nonprofit world's impact on our economy and be thankful that such a powerful force can be a major plus in such uncertain economic times.