Houston, TX [December 12, 2018] – Shannon Beirne Wiesedeppe, community volunteer and project manager at the Houston Invitation Service, has joined The Rose as part of their Board shortly after completing her term as President of the Junior League of Houston (the League). The self-described lifelong volunteer and Houston native joined the breast healthcare organization’s leadership with the hope of spreading the message of The Rose’s life-saving services.
Wiesedeppe first learned of the longtime provider of screenings and mammograms when The Rose was awarded one of the League’s community assistance grants for their Mobile Mammography outreach program several years ago. Later, when a friend invited her to attend The Rose’s annual “A Time to Care” Luncheon hosted at the League, she discovered the growth the organization had experienced in its outreach to 40 counties and its continued commitment to providing quality care for the uninsured and underinsured.
“I would like to see The Rose become the go-to breast cancer screening provider for women of all socio-economic levels and geographic areas,” said Wiesedeppe. “I plan to focus my efforts on increasing awareness and support of The Rose so we are able to fund more mobile coaches, screenings, 3D mammogram machines and the technology we will need moving forward.”
Having friends and family who have been diagnosed with breast cancer, Wiesedeppe values the screenings, diagnostics and treatment The Rose provides. She is particularly excited by The Rose’s commitment to access to care. She points to The Rose’s mobile mammography coaches and sponsorship programs as examples of areas she hopes to expand.
When an invitation was extended to join the Rose’s board, Wiesedeppe had recently led the Junior League of Houston’s nearly 5,000 members in giving more than 135,000 hours of service and contributing over $725,000 in direct financial support to the Greater Houston Area.
“There are so many things you learn from volunteering that I think people don’t appreciate. It has a much larger impact than just the immediate service you are providing,” said Wiesedeppe, who will continue to work with the League as a sustaining member and as part of a task force for The Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc. “There is something for everyone when you volunteer. There’s a place for everyone’s skill set. You better the organization and they better you. It’s a win/win.”
With a professional background that includes a position as Assistant Attorney General for the State of Texas in the Child Support Enforcement Division, Wiesedeppe is prepared to add her skills in coordination and outreach to a board she already views as “passionate about the mission” and equipped with a strategic plan for the organization’s future.
“I’m happy to have the opportunity to be part of something that has such a direct impact on the community. The Rose has so many powerful services to offer patients and I look forward to seeing how the pieces fall into place so we can serve more people, save more lives and engage new supporters in what we are doing,” she concluded.
Wiesedeppe holds degrees from Southern Methodist University School of Law in Dallas and Vanderbilt University in Nashville. She has been a member of the boards of Annunciation Orthodox School PTC, St. Agnes Academy Alumnae Board, The Junior League of Houston, The Junior League of Houston Foundation, ChildBuilders, The Oaks at Briargrove Preschool Advisory Board, and the Memorial Hermann Volunteer Advisory Board. She is also a graduate of the Center for Houston’s Future.
To schedule a media interview with any member of our board, please contact Lis Harper at 281-846-5976 or email [email protected]. For more information, or to donate or volunteer, please visit www.therose.org.
About The Rose
Since 1986, The Rose has provided high quality breast healthcare to all women, regardless of their ability to pay. Its mission is to save lives through quality breast health services, advocacy and access to care for all. As a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence, The Rose is led by Fellowship trained physicians and offers advanced digital technology including 3-D tomosynthesis mammography, diagnostic workups, biopsies and its nationally recognized Patient Navigation Program ensures access to treatment and a continuum of care for all women. As a major part of Southeast Texas’ Healthcare Safety Net, The Rose is a strong advocate for quality breast healthcare and access to care. The Rose provides direct medical services to 40,000 insured and uninsured patients annually. Two Houston-based comprehensive Diagnostic Centers and Mobile Mammography Coaches provide services to women throughout 43 counties in Southeast Texas.
