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Women of Honor – National Cheers Foundation

WOMEN OF WONDER

Honoree Dr. Doris Howell

Dr. Howell is best known for her contributions to palliative care. She was instrumental in founding San Diego Hospice, the first teaching hospice in the United States, and served on the Board of Directors since its inception in 1977, becoming Director Emerita in 1989. For her work in pediatric oncology and as a pioneer in hospice/palliative care, Dr. Howell has received numerous awards. The palliative care service at UCSD/Moores Cancer Center is officially named for Dr. Doris Howell.

Upon her retirement, Dr. Howell became involved in the founding of the Doris A. Howell Foundation for Women’s Health Research, an organization that gives grants to students and established investigators for research in areas of women’s health and educates women to be advocates for their own and their family’s health care.

Honoree Deborah Szekely

Deborah Szekely is a prominent Southern California-area activist, philanthropist, and writer from Brooklyn, New York.  Hailed by the Huffington Post as the "Godmother of Wellness," Szekely opened Rancho la Puerta, a health and wellness camp in Tecate, Mexico in 1940.  In 1958, Szekely opened the Golden Door, a smaller luxury spa property in San Diego.  

Deborah founded (COMBO), Combined Arts and Education Council of San Diego County in 1978, which has raised over $25 million to support 21 cultural organizations. In 1978 COMBO raised over $6 million to rebuild the Old Globe Theatre.

In 2014 Szekely was inducted into the San Diego County Women’s Hall of Fame by the Commission on the Status of Women, the Women's Center at UC San Diego, and the Department of Women's Studies at San Diego State University.

The National CHEERS Foundation is proud to honor her with the 2015 National Cheers 2015 WOW Luncheon Award.
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Help Us Make a Difference

Help us make a difference in the lives of women by making a donation in honor of the special woman in your life.

All funds raised support organizations that help women improve their lives through Care, Honor, Events, Education, Resources and Support.

DONATE NOW

CHEERS FOUNDING MEMBERS
We at the National Cheers Foundation gratefully welcome and acknowledge the following individuals who had aligned themselves with our mission. Together, our mission to contribute to women of all generations to live life with vitality, free from the 5 primary health threats, can be realized.

  • Lisa and Raul Albanez
  • Christine and Craig Andrews
  • DeAnna and Larry Andrews
  • Applefield Hughes Insurance
  • Joanne and Kyle Bakken
  • Tracy Bennett
  • Claudette and William Berwin
  • Kathy and Steven Bettles
  • Nancy and Fred Borrelli
  • Nancy Boyd
  • Kathleen and Dirk Broekema
  • Berneice and Dempsey Copeland
  • Patricia and Rocky Copley
  • Dawn Davidson
  • Linda and Rick Dicker
  • Sharman and Eric Dye
  • Linda Edidin
  • Barbara Ferris
  • Carolyn Farris
  • Alison and Eric Figi
  • Gail Forbes
  • Kay and Ben Fortson
  • Miriam Freitas
  • Helen Froeb
  • Barbara Gerber
  • Elizabeth Guiler – Franklin
  • Jackie Helm
  • Victoria Graham Hillman
  • Leah and Pat Higgins
  • Gina and Rob Hixson
  • Nicole and Lindsay Holland
  • Elaine and Kelly Hooker
  • Kathy and Russell Ingledew
  • Dana Iverson
  • Robert Jackson
  • Claudia Johnson
  • Sue and Lyle Kalish
  • Terri and Richard Kelly
  • Louise Keogh and Robert Sarnoff
  • Kim and Torrey Lee
  • Dawn Maywood
  • Colleen McNally
  • Donna and Donald McGuire
  • Shari Miller
  • Betsy and Greg Mitchell
  • Kathyrn Murphy
  • Micki Olin
  • Patsy Iverson Page
    • Marty and David Pendarvis Fund
    • Kristi Pieper
    • Andrea Reznichek
    • Anseth Page Richards
    • Ellen Roeser
    • Barbara Sargeant
    • Torrie and Jay Schiller
    • Katherine and Red Scott
    • Janke Sedloff
    • Susan and Richard Sparks
    • Kerri and Andrew Smith
    • Shannon Turner
    • Nancy and Nicholas Van Dorn
    • Edith Watts
    • Michelle Weinger
    • Nancy A. Wolff

FOUNDING PATRON

Betty Barwise Page McLean

FRIENDS OF CHEERS

  • Bonnie Mendenhall
  • Diana and Mike Hill
  • Elaine Robbs
  • Bonnie Mendenhall
  • Diana and Mike Hill
  • Elaine Robbs
  • Onah Wiley
  • Tracy Bennett

CHEERS Honors

The National Cheers Foundation is proud to share our Honor Page, where donors may make their contributions and donations in honor of a special woman in their life.

Cheers 2019 Women of Wonder Honorees:

Onah Barwise Penn honored by Onah Wiley

Deborah Szekely honored by Diane Szekely

Gay Sinclair honored by Kim Lee

Our Past Honorees:

Wendy Segall honored by her son Cory Segall

Jeannie Ball honored by her daughter Kate Woods

Barbara Thompson honored by her daughter Tracy Bennett

Betty Page McLean honored by Tracy Bennett

Megan Heine honored by her mother Jacqueline Sinclair

Kimberly Lee honored by her mother in law Jacqueline Sinclair

Barb Stone honored by her friend Mary Pat Warner

Katie McKellips honored by Teresa Conolly

Doris Hughes honored by her daughter Dana Hughes Irwin

Deborah Szekely Honored by Mary and Tom Gegax

Betty Barwise Page McLean graciously honored by Tracy Bennett