Brookline resident honored for helping to attack cancer

The American Cancer Society recently presented a Sandra C. Labaree Volunteer Values Award to Terry Kiernan, a Brookline resident. The award is the most honored accolade by the Society in New England, and it recognizes Kiernan’s remarkable accomplishments in support of the Society’s mission to celebrate lives, to save lives and to lead the fight for a world without cancer.

Since 2018, Kiernan has been a Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of Boston volunteer creating original social media content, coordinating a social media calendar and consistently maintaining a strong voice on the Boston-based accounts. She has also registered as an active event participant in the walk, and in 2020, her fundraising topped more than $1,000 reaching Grand Club status. As a result of staff turnover, in 2020 Kiernan also took on interim responsibility as social media volunteer for Real Men Wear Pink of Boston, while also periodically providing content for the American Cancer Society of Massachusetts Facebook and New England Twitter channels to support event efforts.

Staff said Kiernan’s ability to synthesize the Society’s messaging and unify pieces of content using a consistent voice is impressive. As the Society embraces a digital first approach, Kiernan has helped identify new ways to promote participation for the event and to engage participants to fundraise, sharing helpful social media tools and information. Her ability to help Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of Boston grow its social media followers while integrating messages about new digital tools, like the Society’s FUNdraising App and Facebook fundraising, and sustaining the connection with its existing community has proven invaluable. She is quick to alert staff to inconsistencies in materials and to suggest alternative ways to present information so that messaging remains clear.

“Terry’s determination to provide users with a meaningful social media experience is paramount in all she does, and she is determined to maintain a high level of excellence and ensure our external presence is engaging and authentic,” said Lisa Labadini, senior development manager II with the American Cancer Society. “Terry inspires me to her level of excellence. She is an outstanding volunteer who has the best interest of the event at heart. Her personal connection to the cause is genuine, and I believe her steady determination is reflected in our growing number of social followers, a testament to her dedication and the good work that she produces.”

The Sandra C. Labaree Volunteer Values Award is named in honor of the late Sandra C. Labaree, a longtime American Cancer Society volunteer from Maine. Despite her death from breast cancer in 2000, Labaree’s spirit and values live on through this award. Each year, the local area Board selects the most inspired and passionate individuals to receive this prestigious honor whose service best exemplifies the Society’s organizational values of mission, stewardship, diversity, data-driven, and respect.

For more information on how to become a volunteer for the American Cancer Society or about the Society’s programs and services, please visit www.Cancer.org or call 800-227-2345.

About the American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society is a global grassroots force of 1.5 million volunteers dedicated to saving lives, celebrating lives, and leading the fight for a world without cancer. From breakthrough research to free lodging near treatment, a 24/7/365 live helpline, free rides to treatment, and convening powerful activists to create awareness and impact, the Society is the only organization attacking cancer from every angle. For more information go to www.cancer.org.