MEET OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Deborah Q. Belfatto is the creator of “Let’s Talk: Women’s Health & Wellness,” an all-day gathering about women’s well-being and living healthy first held in the fall of 2022 and slated for a second year on October 21, 2023. Diagnosed with breast cancer over 30 years ago at the age of 33, Deb came to understand—as she moved through the long road of diagnosis, treatment, recovery, and survival—that she was surviving because of her access to the right resources, connections, and relationships. As a result, she was able to obtain the best care possible. To make a difference for women in New Jersey for whom life-saving breast health care, screening, and treatment support services were out of reach geographically, financially, or emotionally, Deb launched the Susan G. Komen North Jersey Affiliate in 1997 along with co-founders Kathleen Hubert-McKenna and Lisa Herschli. Susan G. Komen North Jersey—now 25 years old—has awarded over $16 million in local community grants to non-profit organizations, and over $7 million has been directed to national research programs in pursuit of new techniques and more effective treatment options.

During her tenure, she was identified by New Jersey Life magazine as one of 40 New Jersey People that “those in the know, know.” She received the New Jersey Institute for Nursing’s “Exceptional People Impacting the Community” Award. Shape Magazine honored her with its “Circle of Life” Award for her dedication to the fight against breast cancer as a life-threatening disease, and NJBIZ recognized her as one of New Jersey’s “25 Women of Influence.” In addition, Deb received the Junior League of the Oranges and Short Hills “Woman of Vision Award” and Rotary International’s “Jean Harris Award.”

With Deb’s second diagnosis and cure of breast cancer in 2021, Deb’s knee-jerk reaction to her survival when she once again had access to top healthcare was to create the Let’s Talk event. For her efforts, she was awarded the Beacon of Light Award from the YWCA Northern New Jersey. Deb now serves as a Trustee of Women@NJPAC–a leadership arm of the NJ Performing Arts Center and co-chaired the (sold-out) Annual Spring Luncheon & Auction for three consecutive years and now enjoys a leadership role on the Executive Committee.