Early life and education

Brinker (née Goodman) was born to a Jewish family in Peoria, Illinois, the daughter of Marvin L. and Eleanor (née Newman) Goodman. Her father was a commercial real-estate developer and her mother a homemaker. In 1968, she received a B.A. from the University of Illinois. After school, she moved to Dallas, Texas and worked at Neiman Marcus as an assistant couture buyer. Thereafter she took various positions at other public relation firms before marrying Norman Brinker, the founder of the Steak and Ale, Bennigan's, and Chili's restaurant chains.

Susan G. Komen for the Cure

In 1982, Brinker established Susan G. Komen for the Cure, after a promise to her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, that she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer. Since its inception, the nonprofit has raised over $1.9 billion for research, education and health services, making it the largest breast cancer charity in the world. The Washington Post has called her the "steely force" at the organization. Komen has more than 75,000 volunteers nationwide, 120 affiliates in the United States, and 3 affiliates in other countries. The organization has resulted in the development of many new treatment options and a higher quality of life overall for breast cancer patients and long-term survivors. Brinker served as founding chairman of the organization, supervising all aspects of initial growth,. On December 2, 2009, Brinker was appointed CEO. She also pioneered cause marketing, allowing millions to participate in the fight against breast cancer through businesses that share Komen's commitment to end the disease. Susan G. Komen for the Cure at one point held Charity Navigator's highest rating, four stars. As of March 2014, it held two stars. In late January 2012, a public furor arose around the Foundation's policy decision to stop funding most Planned Parenthood offices, resulting in an apology from Brinker and a revised policy by the first week of February 2012. On June 17, 2013, Judith A. Salerno replaced Brinker as CEO.

Government service

World Health Organization Goodwill Ambassador

Brinker is currently serving as the World Health Organization's Goodwill Ambassador for Cancer Control. She was appointed by WHO Director-General Margaret Chan on May 26, 2009. She is the organization's public face for its fight to raise awareness and strengthen programs in poorer countries on behalf of the United Nations agency. She advocated for strengthening global action for cancer prevention and control in the context of the Global Strategy for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases endorsed by the World Health Assembly in May 2008. Her message emphasized the need for low- and middle-income countries to strengthen comprehensive and evidence-based cancer control policies and programs.

Chief of Protocol

On June 18, 2007, President Bush nominated Brinker to be Chief of Protocol of the United States and to have the rank of ambassador and assistant under-secretary of state. Brinker was sworn into the post on September 14, 2007. Her term lasted until January 20, 2009.

In this role, Brinker advised, assisted and supported the president, the vice president and the secretary of state on official matters of diplomatic procedure. She accompanied the president on official visits abroad and served as his personal representative and liaison to foreign ambassadors in Washington. The Office of the Chief of Protocol is responsible for activities including the planning, hosting, logistics, and officiating at ceremonial events for visiting chiefs of state and heads of government. On April 15, 2008, Brinker was the first American to greet Pope Benedict XVI upon his arrival at Andrews Air Force Base as part of her official duties.

The office also manages Blair House, the president's guesthouse. On October 7, 2008, Brinker hosted a symposium on "Breast Cancer Global Awareness” at the Blair House. First Lady Laura Bush joined the participants and for the first time ever, the White House was illuminated in pink for the occasion.

As Chief of Protocol, Brinker expanded the role of the office through outreach programs intended to foster better relationships with the Diplomatic Corps. The effort, known as Diplomatic Partnerships involved over 60 events, including "Experience America", where the Diplomatic Corps traveled throughout the United States to meet with business and civic leaders.

Ambassador to Hungary

Brinker served as United States Ambassador to Hungary from September 2001 to 2003. A political appointee, she advanced a broad range of American security and economic interests. Specific successes include expanded security cooperation, development of a closure strategy for the Hungarian Fund, resolving commerce transparency issues, and for the first time, holding a conference on the trafficking and exploitation of workers that health ministers from the neighboring Balkan States attended. She also raised awareness about breast cancer among Hungarian women by leading a march over the Chain Bridge in Budapest. The bridge was illuminated in pink for the occasion.

While ambassador, Brinker began to collect Hungarian art. Today, her collection spans 100 years, from just before the Austro-Hungarian Empire to the present and has been on display at several museums around the United States. The collection is one of the largest outside of Hungary. The collection extends and complements the acknowledged masters of Hungarian modernism and has introduced the American audience to original artists of more modest reputation.

Hungarian President Ferenc Mádl decorated Brinker with the Order of Merit, Medium Class, Cross Adorned with Star, for her work in advancing bilateral relations and in recognition of her charity activities.

Other government service

• On December 24, 2008, President Bush appointed her to the Board of Trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for a six-year term.
• In 2000, she served on the National Steering Committee for the National Dialogue on Cancer.
• Vice President Dan Quayle invited her to chair a subcommittee monitoring research, progress and development in the fight against breast cancer.
• In 1990, President Bush appointed her to chair the President's Cancer Panel and to monitor the progress of the National Cancer Program.
• In 1986, President Ronald Reagan appointed her to the National Cancer Advisory Board.
• Brinker was a bundler for George W. Bush. In 2000, she was a Pioneer, a member of Bush's $100,000 Club.

Business career

In 1994, Brinker founded In Your Corner, Inc., a business venture designed to meet the retail consumer need for reliable health and wellness products and information. In Your Corner, Inc. was sold to AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals in 1998.

She has testified before the United States Democratic Policy Committee's Congressional Breast Cancer Forum and participated in the International Women's Forum.

Awards

Brinker has received the following awards and titles:

• National Women's Hall of Fame
• Texas Women's Hall of Fame
• Reader's Digest Trust Poll: The 100 Most Trusted People in America, May, 2013
• Presidential Medal of Freedom, awarded by President Barack Obama on August 12, 2009
• Time magazine, 100 Most Influential People in the World
• Ladies’ Home Journal’s 100 Most Important Women of the 20th Century
• Biography Magazine’s The 25 Most Powerful Women in America
• Anti-Defamation League Americanism Award
• The Ladies' Home Journal's Top 10 Champions of Women's Health
• 2009 Porter Prize
• 2005 Mary Woodard Lasker Public Service Award in Support of Medical Research
• The 1997 S. Roger Horchow Award for Greatest Public Service by a Private Citizen, awarded by Jefferson Awards
• 2007 Trumpet Award
• 2007 Castle Connolly National Health Leadership Award
• The Texas Governor's Award for Outstanding National Service
• 2007 Pro Cultura Hungarica Medal
• American Association for Cancer Research Centennial Medal for Distinguished Public Service in 2007
• 2007 IARC Medal of Honour
• The American Society of Breast Disease 2006
• Global Pathfinder Award
• 2004 Service to America Leadership Award presented by the National Association of Broadcasters Educational Foundation
• The Champions of Excellence Award presented by the Centers for Disease Control
• ASCO Special Recognition Award
• Cancer Research and Treatment Fund, Inc. Cancer Survivors Hall of Fame
• Modern Healthcare 2007 Health Care Hall of Fame
• In 1996, Siena Medal awarded from Theta Phi Alpha Fraternity. The medal is the highest honor the organization bestows upon a non-member and is named after their patroness, St. Catherine of Siena.
• The Sword of Ignatius Loyola Award from Saint Louis University
• The Healthcare Humanitarian Award presented by the Global Conference Institute
• Toastmasters International Top Five Speakers for 2001 Award
• The Sisters Network 2001 Lifetime Achievement Award
• The 2000 Cino del Duca Award, the James Ewing Layman Award from the Society of Surgical Oncology
• The 1999 Caring Award
• The Albert Einstein's Sarnoff Volunteer Award
• The first Salomon Smith Barney Extraordinary Achievement Award
• The Champion of Prevention Award by the National Foundation for the Centers for Disease Control
• 1995 University of Illinois Alumni Achievement Award
• Inducted into the Cancer Research and Treatment Fund, Inc. Cancer Survivors Hall of Fame
• The American Society of Breast Surgeons Lifetime Achievement Award—2003
• Inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame in 2015
• Lincoln Laureate, 2016

Publications

Brinker has co-authored four books:

• Promise Me: How a Sister's Love Launched the Global Movement to End Breast Cancer, co-authored with Joni Rodgers - September 14, 2010
• The Race is Run One Step at a Time, co-authored with Catherine McEvilly Harris
• 1000 Questions About Women's Health, co-authored with Dr. H. Jane Chihal
• Winning the Race : Taking Charge of Breast Cancer, co-authored with Chriss Anne Winston

Brinker wrote the forewords for:

• Tamoxifen for the Treatment and Prevention of Breast Cancer by V. Craig Jordan
• Tamoxifen: A Guide for Clinicians and Patients by V. Craig Jordan

Personal

Nancy Goodman married her first husband, Robert M. Leitstein, an executive at Neiman Marcus; they divorced in 1978. They had one son.

On February 13, 1981, Nancy Goodman wed Norman E. Brinker, a pioneer of the casual dining industry and founder of Brinker International, which provided access to capital and influence which enabled her role in public service. Norman Brinker provided funds and methodology for building the Komen foundation. The couple were major contributors to George W. Bush's first presidential campaign. They divorced shortly after the 2000 U.S. Presidential election, but Norman Brinker remained a board member of Komen for the Cure, having served on its board since its founding in 1982 until his death in 2009.

Brinker is a major funder of gay marriage initiatives. She serves on the Advisory Board of the Harvey Milk Foundation.

[ Source: Wikipedia ]