Her earlier advocacy efforts prepared and led her to founding P.A.N.D.O.R.A. – Patient Alliance for Neuroendocrineimmune Disorder Organization for Research and Advocacy, Inc., in July 1, 2002. P.A.N.D.O.R.A. is a 501 c 3, nonprofit charitable organization, and its main goal is to pro-actively participate in finding a cure for chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalopathy, fibromyalgia, and related illnesses. The mission of P.A.N.D.O.R.A. is to be One Strong Voice for Many © by raising and creating community awareness, organizing educational conferences, establishing partnerships in our community, supporting increased research funding, encouraging empowerment groups and advocating for quality of life issues for persons with neuroendocrineimmune disorders (PwNEIDs).
Silverman is a member of Women’s Way, a diverse group of women in Broward County dedicated to philanthropy and volunteerism, and through P.A.N.D.O.R.A., has collaborated with the Salvation Army, the United Way, the Arthritis Foundation, Temple Sholom, The CFIDS Association, The National Fibromyalgia Association, the American Pain Foundation, The Wisconsin CFS Association, F.A.C.E.S. , The Lanford LIFE LYME Foundation, and many other worthwhile organizations hopefully making a difference in our overall community.
Silverman’s honors due to her ongoing advocacy efforts include the 2000 “Achiever of the Millennium Award” from Memorial Hospital West Rehabilitation Center for her involvement and co-founding of the Fibromyalgia/CFS empowerment (support) group at the hospital. Her other accomplishments include being three times recognized by the National Fibromyalgia Association as one of the national “Leaders Against Pain” in 2005 and 2006, 2007. She was the inspiration behind the 2007 Advocates Extraordinaire!©Leadership and Advocacy training program given by P.A.N.D.O.R.A. at the 2007 International Association for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome International Conference on CFS, FM and related illnesses.
Silverman is the volunteer publisher of P.A.N.D.O.R.A.’s newsletter and her articles have been published on Balance Magazine, the CFIDS Chronicle, and on The Chronicle at Temple Sholom. She has been interviewed on radio, television and newspapers on the topics of chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia always emphasizing how important the quality of life issues and advocacy are to individuals with neuroendocrineimmune disorders. She is the creator of the concept: “The Business of Getting Better”™, a business-minded approach to handling chronic illnesses.
Silverman’s charisma, business and leadership skills are re-energizing the national and international advocacy community. She is bilingual in Portuguese and English and quite fluent in Spanish. She is extremely creative in using technology and the media locally and nationally in order to create media awareness to PANDORA’s cause. She is extremely successful in facilitating meetings involving individuals from all walks of life who can make a difference in the neuroendocrineimmune community. She tries to recruit individuals to serve on PANDORA’s board from the African-American and from the Hispanic communities fully reflecting the demographics of the illnesses PANDORA embraces. Silverman’s talents include great communication skills, strong attitude towards embracing life at its fullest by generating hope among the communities that PANDORA serves.
Silverman’s involvement with community issues has been a life long pursuit. During her business career, she was the first woman to hold the position of President (Chairman) of Crime Stoppers of Miami Dade County. She was also the President of Financial Women International (1994), Co-chairman of Florida International Bankers Association (FIBA)-Security and Fraud Committee and member of the Fraud Prevention Committee of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce. Before Silverman was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia, she represented one of the largest U.S. Banks in Brazil and in Portugal as an international financial consultant.
Her hobbies are advocacy, supporting her synagogue, reading, making homemade cards, learning how to play a keyboard most of all she enjoys “hanging out” with her husband Stephen who is an executive with Coastal Construction Group and former President of P.A.N.D.O.R.A. She enjoys dining with her son Lawrence McKibben and her mother Zuzu in Brazilian restaurants in South Florida and enjoys quality time with her extended family. The new addition to her family is a puppy-dog named Boomer Passover. She and her husband reside in sunny Pompano Beach, Florida.
© 2007
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