Success And Philanthropy

What kind of work do you do for the American Cancer Society?

I am the spokesperson for the American Cancer Society here locally. I do their television work. We film public service announcements periodically through the year to try to raise money for the Cancer Society. The American Cancer Society has very low admin fees and so it's close to my heart because pretty much everyone I know has someone in their life who's been affected by cancer whether it's breast, lung, prostate, liver. So many different things that lifestyle changes can help avoid so I try to work with them as their spokesperson for filming public service announcements to raise money throughout the year for different events. And to help their support programs, to help spread awareness of the man-to-man program and the woman-to-woman program and the programs they have to help people get through chemotherapy and reconstructive surgery and things like that . It touches my heart. It's touched my family. It helps me to give back to the community and it's a really great organization.

How has fame helped your work with the American Cancer Society?

Well because I do public service announcements for the Cancer Society, people now recognize me from having been on "The Apprentice" and being the winner and they see me in the media quite a bit. So that recognition helps them to say, "Well, OK, this is credible. This woman is out there who is professional, who's ethical, who's raising money for a worthy cause." They can see that it's tangible when they go to my website and they can see a link to the Cancer Society and they feel safer about donating and helping and they can see the results. It's very, it's very evident, it's instant gratification. You see the children who are thrilled to be receiving teddy bears while they're living in chemotherapy wards and people who, women who, need support when they're going through chemotherapy or radiation treatment are trying to get their lives put back together, or who are dealing with life after cancer or dealing with someone who has passed away from cancer and you are dealing with their surviving family members. There are so many things you can do and so many ways you can educate.

Why is it so important to you to give back?

I have a hectic schedule, obviously, and I try to make time for charity work. We all have our chosen group. For me, it's the Cancer Society. It's because it touched my mother who, thank God, survived cancer. She had a radical mastectomy back when she was 46, back when they used to do those surgeries. She underwent severe chemotherapy with stage 3 advanced breast cancer, and no one thought she would live. The Cancer Society was there for her when she was sick and helped her through a very difficult time in her life. So I feel indebted to them for the rest of my life for what they did for my mother and her mother and for me at a young age. So to the extent that I can help to spread the word, educate, and be a support system to other women and men out there, I will be.