EEWN Scholarships

Jeanne Block Scholarships are awarded by the EEWN Past Women of the Year to qualifying East End women pursuing greater success through education. For more information, please email the East End Women's Network at info@eewn.org.

EEWN Members (after the first year of membership) are eligible to apply for Scholarships to advance their goals. You may apply receive up to $300 once every two years.

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Member Scholarship Application

Student Scholarships are awarded to two high school senior girls each year. Judging is based on Grade Average, Community and School Involvement, Referrence Letters, Goals and an Essay. Application and Information will be posted here soon.

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2008 Woman of the Year

Susan Barry Roden

Susan Barry Roden, a resident of Water Mill, NY is an advocate for breast cancer research and services on the east end of Long Island. She is the Community Outreach Coordinator of the Breast Center at the Southampton Hospital, as well as the Executive Director of the South Fork Breast Health Coalition. Fifteen years ago, at the time of Susan's breast cancer diagnosis, there were no support services for patients and their families. Susan found herself battling cancer without any services focused on healing the psychological and emotional aspects of breast cancer. In addition, education on breast cancer prevention measures was in demand in a region with one of the highest incidences of breast cancer in New York State. Susan promised that once she was healthy again no other woman from Manorville to Montauk would ever endure breast cancer alone.

In 1992, inspired by Susan's courageous journey, Town Councilwoman Martha Rogers encouraged her to start an organization on the East End. In 1994, a door to door campaign led to the founding of the South Fork Breast Health Coalition. The coalition is a nonprofit business dedicated to providing education, support services and preventative measures related to breast cancer. The coalition has a grassroots approach to ensure that wellness and educational programs target the disenfranchised and the uninsured and underinsured. In the last years, the educational campaign on breast cancer prevention methods has increased the use of mammography to exponential levels. Over a thousand women have received no cost mammograms, the diagnosed receive an array of wellness services and financial assistance, and now local high schools participate in the Think Pink Educational Program.

Saving lives and raising awareness in a region as diverse as the East End is no easy task. Under Susan's leadership, volunteers have been recruited to help manage the day to day operations of the coalition. Her ability to inspire, multitask and bring hope to women from all walks of life is what attracts so many volunteers and support to the work she does. From community health fairs, to high schools, local business and the East End's town halls, Susan Roden raises awareness on breast cancer to ensure that every woman and man diagnosed has the highest quality of life. From newsletters, a newly created website, to malls, libraries, recreational parks and businesses, each one has been discovered by Susan as a gateway to educate the public on the importance of breast health.

Every month of the year, an activity is planned that involves targeting more women until the goal of 100% of East End women performing self breast exams and annual mammograms after the age of forty is achieved. The underlying goal is to save the life of a mother, an aunt, a sister, a cousin, a daughter and a friend. In the event of a breast cancer diagnosis, Susan developed a plethora of programs that addresses the aspects of healing the emotional and psychological components. Additional training was needed to provide this first of its kind service to women of the East End.

For that reason, in 2004, she was certified in Mind/Body programs from the Mind/Body School of Medicine at Harvard University. This certification has allowed her to develop Mind/Body programs at the Southampton Hospital for all cancer patients. This program is called Wings of Hope and is focused on healing the emotional aspects of cancer. Susan also developed an integrative medical program for breast cancer patients. She believes that cancer strikes a part of the body, in most cases, however the treatment must be for the whole person. Susan believes that through research and education new methods of fighting the disease must be implemented to ensure quality of life to the years each individual has to live.

Susan has also been able to adapt to the changes in her community demographics. Local communities are being transformed by new migratory waves from cities to rural areas. Newly arrived Spanish speaking women are in desperate need of breast health services. To address this challenge, Susan developed and manages the Bosom Buddy program. This program provides an interpreter ("buddy") to medical appointments and chemotherapy. Another challenge facing the East End is transportation, which is crucial to ensure that women keep their medical appointments. For that reason, Neighbors Helping Neighbors was created. This program provides transportation and financial support for women going through breast cancer treatment. If a breast cancer patient is at the end stages, a new program, Lucia's Angels, provides patients with any type of last wishes and an "angel" to be of assistance when needed.

On the East End of Long Island, there is no one else like Susan Roden; her dedication and visible presence in this community has won her the love and respect of each individual that has been transformed by her stamina and passion. Susan Roden's efforts under the guise of the South Fork Breast Health Coalition and as Community Outreach Coordinator have been recognized by President and Senator Clinton, Designer Betsy Johnson, actress Renee Zellweger, and Congressman Tim Bishop.

Susan's extensive community track record has been awarded and recognized by government, businesses and charitable organizations in New York. This year, she received the award for Outstanding Volunteer of the Year by Southampton Town, and in 1997 by Suffolk Life Newspaper. Susan has been recognized as a Hero by the Susan G. Komen Foundation in the year 2000, and by the East Hampton and Southampton Independent Press in 1998. In addition, Southampton Town recognized Susan with the Outstanding Citizen Award in 2006 and 2003. Last year, Susan was the recipient of the Have a Heart Woman of the Year Award. Susan received the Junior League of Long Island Volunteer Merit Award in 2003, and was the recipient of the Cancer Care's Breast Cancer Movement Pioneer Award in 2003. Moreover, in 2002, she was recognized with the East End's Friend of Education Award. In 1999, she was recognized with the New York Senate Women Distinction Award.

Susan is a member of the advisory breast cancer board of Congressman Tim Bishop's office and is the founding member of the East End Breast Cancer Coalition. She was appointed to the East Hampton Health Care Foundation Collaborative Council in 2001. She is a board member of the Health and Research Board Committee on Research and Education Needs and Program Effectiveness, and a member of the Department of Health Service's Advisory Committee for the East End Breast Cancer Case Study Control Study. She is the Volunteer Coordinator for the Ellen's Run For Breast Health Awareness.

Notwithstanding the responsibilities of managing a nonprofit, fundraising is crucial for the continuity in services. For the past ten years, through countless phone calls, awareness campaigns, late night meetings and tremendous efforts, Susan has raised for the Coalition over one million dollars. Since the organization maintains a volunteer approach, approximately 90% of the revenue funds the educational and wellness programs of the coalition.

For the past fifteen years, Susan has helped thousands of women through their recovery process and she has signed up thousands more for yearly mammograms. She is the fight against breast cancer and is the closest answer we have for a cure. Susan's life changed after breast cancer, but she also changed and touched the lives of so many women that do not feel alone, because of her extraordinary work. A lot of individuals go through cancer each year, however only a few extraordinary people can transform their lives with such positive force that changes those around you for the better.

As Susan underscores, education on the need of a yearly mammogram and clinical breast exams are the best tools for breast cancer prevention. What is most significant about Susan is her ability to inspire and bring hope when life's circumstances become unbearable. She brings hope, love and laughter to every being that walks in her path. Her mission in life has been transformed completely by breast cancer in such a positive way that anybody who is struggling with the disease is empowered to fight for themselves and their families.

Susan is a whirlwind, her phone rings constantly and her emails appear as fast as she responds to them. Whether the meetings are at nine in the morning or in the evening, she's there if the mission is to educate the public on breast cancer. She is in constant movement, advocating for breast cancer at town hall, signing women up for mammograms, fundraising and organizing events, or just talking quietly and calmly to someone who just heard the words, "You have breast cancer". After a woman hears these terrifying words and asks herself "what now?" Susan is there to give you an answer. This is the most incredible and beautiful thing to give to another human being, hope and the knowledge that you are not alone.

If you walk the streets of Southampton and ask do you know who Susan Roden is, they will tell you, "Oh you mean Pinkie?" She has turned this town inside out. Pink Ribbons are attached to every tree to remind you of the women who have gone past you, the ones that are fighting, and the future ones who will survive. If it's a Tuesday or a Thursday you will find breast cancer survivors taking yoga lessons designed specifically to meet their needs. In addition, she has established art therapy groups, support groups, provides financial assistance, finds you a babysitter, cleans your house, and gets you a massage. Whatever you need, if you have breast cancer on the East End of Long Island, your pain is alleviated once you know Susan Roden is there for you.

2007 Student Scholarship Winners

Caitrian Boucher - First Place, recipient of $1,000

As a student at Mattituck High School, Caiti Boucher developed her academic talents by taking a full course load of honors and AP courses, and she was chosen to serve on the Executive Board of the National Honor Society. She played flute in the elementary and high school bands and was a keyboard player and guitar player in the award-winning high school Jazz Band.

Caiti is an athlete, too, and as co-captain of her Varsity tennis team, she was named an All-League player and received the Suffolk County Tennis Coaches’ Association Academic Award. This past year, she tutored Math weekly on a voluntary basis, and at the request of her piano teacher, she gave piano lessons to a student who plays in the high school jazz band. She also found time to serve as a volunteer for her church and taught weekly religion classes for the past two years. She was one of two students chosen from her school to receive the Suffolk Zone Award for physical fitness, scholastic ability and leadership.

For the past three years, Caiti has worked part-time as a chef and counterperson at a local organic foods market. Through the years, she developed an interest in business entrepreneurship, and as a high school junior, she took a 3-credit business course at Suffolk Community College. This summer, Caiti will pursue her interest in business by interning with a jewelry designer and a fashion designer in Santa Fe, New Mexico, while also working there as a camp counselor. In the fall, she will attend Kenyon College in Ohio, where she plans to study Math and French

 Amanda Tooker - Runner-up, recipient of $500

Amanda is a graduate of Eastport South Manor Jr/Sr High School and will be attending Fordham University in the fall. Amanda is currently an undeclared major and is deciding between studying International Relations or International Business. She also has a very strong passion for the arts, humanities and liberal studies, as well, and she intends to study abroad.

Amanda has been sailing since she was 8 years old and is a sailing instructor during the summer months. Amanda will continue to sail during her collegiate years on the Fordham University Sailing Team. Amanda has been very active in the school and community. This past year she was the President of Student Council, President of Interact Club, President of Athletes Helping Athletes, as well as a natural helper and member of Spanish Honors Society and National Honors Society.

This past spring, she was an integral part in planning the first annual spring festival at her school. Her community service was hinged around the Interact Club, as well as Girls Scouts. She received both her Silver and Gold Award from the Girl Scouts of America. Amanda was also very involved with athletics. She was a member and Captain of the Eastport South Manor Varsity Soccer team and a member of the Eastport South Manor Varsity Lacrosse team. Recently, she was awarded the Outstanding Senior-Scholar Athlete Award.