REAL LIFE MODEL CITIZEN Mary Sadeghy, City of Hope

It’s no secret that we love giving back here at JMC. One of the charities that’s closest to our hearts is City of Hope.  We’ve been partnering with the life-saving cancer research and treatment organization for a few years--every time you purchase a GOGO Mascara, we give another one to a City of Hope cancer patient and donate $1 to City of Hope cancer research. So when they asked Josie to be one of their Citizens of Hope, of course she said yes. Through our work with City of Hope, we had the opportunity to meet some of the wonderful people behind the organization, including Mary Sadeghy, City of Hope’s Senior Director of Marketing & Business Development. Mary and her team work hard every day to help City of Hope achieve the dream of curing cancer. As a cancer survivor herself, Mary has a very personal perspective on the important work that they do at City of Hope. She’s a bright, bubbly, generous spirit so we were thrilled when she agreed to share her story with our Chicological readers.

How did you end up working at City of Hope?

After spending over 23 years in corporate marketing jobs, I was really interested in using my experience and business skills toward something that would make a difference in the world.  I have a few different passion points – finding a cure for cancer, women and children’s issues and education.

I wasn’t quite sure where my path would lead me, but I was determined and 100% confident that I had to work on a cause that meant something me.  And, almost like magic, I heard about my current job at City of hope and knew immediately I had to have it.  Somehow, I was lucky enough to convince them to take me!

As a cancer survivor yourself, what does it mean to you to be working towards a cure for the disease?

There are really no proper words to explain how important my work is to me.  I am fiercely passionate about City of Hope and the incredible work that happens here every day.  And, though I am especially attached to our cause as a survivor, I am equally fueled by the many people I know who have been touched by cancer – family, friends and even total strangers.  I would give anything to spare people from ever having to hear they have cancer, or that a loved one has cancer.  I feel incredibly lucky to be a survivor, and just as fortunate to work somewhere fighting for a cure.

What is the most rewarding part of your work?

It’s a cliché, but it honestly is the people.  The caliber of people who work at City of Hope is extraordinary.  It’s a special place that attracts smart, passionate, caring and dedicated people no matter what their role.  It’s exciting, motivating and very meaningful to be surrounded by that all the time.  You can palpably feel the force field of positive energy and commitment when you visit our campus!  I call it fairy dust because it really is something special and dreamlike.

I also meet a ton of people in my day to day to life who just beam when I tell them where I work.  Inevitably, they’ve known someone who was a patient, and it’s incredible how consistent the experience is – the compassionate care and outstanding treatment they received.  It’s pretty special to see how hopeful people can be in spite of a difficult diagnosis.  As a marketer, I love that we live and breathe our brand!

Finally, working in corporate life, we’d always say, “We’re not curing cancer”.  And, I just love the fact that now I can say… “We are!”  It’s instant perspective every day and in all situations.

What can our readers do to support cancer research and City of Hope?

More than ever, raising money for research is a critical to having the proper resources to find new treatments and cures.  There are lots of ways to give – from straight donations to participating in our Walks for Hope to buying products you use every day from our fantastic partners like Josie Maran Cosmetics.  No amount is too small – it all adds up, and we can all feel good about giving no matter how we do it. 

Spreading the word is also very important and one of the easiest ways to do that is to become a Citizen of Hope, like Josie!  All you have to do is go to cityofhope.org/citizen and make a badge with a word that gives you hope and share it with friends, encouraging them to do the same.  Awareness is an important step in fundraising.

We hear you love JMC products! What’s your fave? 

You heard it right – I do love JMC products!  It’s very hard to pick a fave – but if I really have to, I’m gonna go with the Argan Matchmaker Foundation.  I’m a little hesitant to share that openly because I get compliments on my skin, and I’d like people to believe I was born this way.  But, it’s really all about the product!  I love that it has a little bit of dewiness and blends in almost invisibly, and the magical self-adjusting color is super groovy!