NASHVILLE, TENN. – Aug 7, 2019 – Gilda’s Club Middle Tennessee today announced the appointment of Harriet Schiftan as its President and CEO. Schiftan, a successful leader in Nashville’s non-profit community, will take the reins of the 21-year-old cancer support organization on Tuesday, Sept. 3.
“The Gilda’s Club Middle Tennessee team is thrilled to welcome Harriet Schiftan as our new leader,” Board Chair Jim Brown said. “Harriet has the knowledge, leadership experience and understanding of our unique mission to build upon our successful track record to provide free cancer support to those diagnosed and their families and friends. She’s a great fit for Gilda’s Club as we prepare for further growth to make sure no Middle Tennessean has to face cancer alone.”
Schiftan has more than 25 years’ non-profit leadership experience. Most recently, she served the Jewish Federation of Nashville and Middle Tennessee (JFNA) from 2010-2018, where she was Associate Executive Director from 2016-2018. At JFNA, Schiftan pioneered a nationally recognized priority-based program grant funding model and developed an innovative grant process program. She has been a resident of Nashville since 1999 and holds a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Southern California; a Master of Arts degree in Jewish Communal Service from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion; and a Bachelor of Arts degree from San Diego State University.
Schiftan said, “I am honored and excited to have been selected to serve as the next President and CEO of Gilda’s Club Middle Tennessee by an exceptionally dedicated, passionate, and mission-focused Search Committee, Board of Directors, and professional staff. Gilda’s Club Middle Tennessee has a well-earned reputation for excellence in cancer support services and, as a result, is rapidly growing and expanding. I look forward to building upon the successes of my two predecessors, who served the organization with distinction. I welcome the opportunity to personally meet with all those who make the Gilda’s mission possible, so together we can ensure no one faces cancer alone.”
The Middle Tennessee community will have the opportunity to meet Schiftan at Gilda’s Club’s Red Door Bash celebration and fundraiser at the Omni Nashville Hotel on Oct. 16.
To learn more about Gilda’s Club Middle Tennessee, visit www.gildasclubmiddletn.org.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Laura Alabed-Olsson, Dir. Marketing / Communications
laura@gildasclubmiddletn.org
615.329.1124 or 615.948.7682 (cell)
About Gilda’s Club Middle Tennessee (formerly Gilda’s Club Nashville)
Gilda’s Club Middle Tennessee, an affiliate of the Cancer Support Community, is dedicated to providing support, education, and hope to all people impacted by cancer, including those diagnosed and family and friends. Free of charge to everyone – thanks to our generous donors – Gilda’s Club Middle Tennessee’s evidence-based program for men, women, teens, children, and families includes support groups, emotional support counseling, health and nutrition coaching, healthy lifestyle workshops, mind-body classes, social activities, educational lectures, and community resource information. Offering approximately 70 professionally-led support and networking groups, and more than 80 educational workshops and lectures each month from two locations, Gilda’s Club Middle Tennessee is able to make a tangible difference in the lives of those impacted by cancer. We build community, so no one has to face cancer alone.
About Cancer Support Community
As the largest professionally-led nonprofit network of cancer support worldwide, the Cancer Support Community (CSC), including its Gilda’s Club affiliates, is dedicated to ensuring that all people impacted by cancer are empowered by knowledge, strengthened by action and sustained by community. CSC achieves its mission through three areas: direct service delivery, research, and advocacy. The organization includes an international network of affiliates that offer the highest quality social and emotional support for people impacted by cancer, as well as a community of support available online and over the phone. The Research and Training Institute conducts cutting-edge psychosocial, behavioral and survivorship research. CSC furthers its focus on patient advocacy through its Cancer Policy Institute, informing public policy in Washington, D.C. and across the nation. For more information, please call the toll-free Cancer Support Helpline at 888-793-9355 or visit www.CancerSupportCommunity.org.