General Info
Vallie Szymanski
Chicago, IL
11-50
About
OCSA, a 501(c)(3) organization, was founded in 2010 by Chicagoans, Susan and Rick Roman alongside their friend, Vallie Szymanski, after Susan was diagnosed with Stage III ovarian cancer in August of 2009. Determined to beat the disease that claimed her beloved mother in 1976, Susan passionately jumped into this noble cause with the intention of raising awareness about the silent symptoms of ovarian cancer. A lack of early detection technologies and a host of symptoms that can be mistaken for many other ailments and diseases make ovarian cancer difficult to identify until it is too late. While Susan unfortunately lost her battle with the disease, the nonprofit continues under the direction of Vallie and a committed board of directors, board advisory members and volunteers. OCSA’s core mission is delivered in a variety of ways to a variety of audiences, but none are more important than the partnership we have with animals. We believe in, and champion, the human/animal healing experience by:- Presenting information about the symptoms of ovarian cancer to groups of veterinary students and those working within the veterinary professions
- Creating and distributing materials that inform readers of the silent symptoms of ovarian cancer and the positive effects of the human/animal bond
- Organizing dog friendly events that enable us to get the word out about this deadly disease while enhancing the human/animal healing experience.
Relevant People
Vallie Szymanski
Co-Founder & Executive Director