Prime Poway Woman No. 22: Susan Spoto

Also Read: Highlighting 31 Prime Poway Women

Serving just one term as the Midland Elementary School PTA president wasn't enough for Susan Spoto.

In her second year as the group's president, Spoto is also involved in the school's foundation, the school site council and even serves as the San Diego Opera advisory director. Now, the clincial laboratory scientist, who is also a breast cancer survivor, is working on creating a nonprofit called Breast Cancer Now! to help those who are newly diagnosed and underfunded in San Diego.

Spoto, who moved to Poway in 1993 and admires women like First Lady Michelle Obama and Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, said her involvement in her community is what she is most proud of.

“I am most proud of the fact that I have consciously decided to try and make a difference in our community,” she said. “My biggest accomplishment was being asked to help start a new breast cancer foundation. Once the tax-exempt status has been achieved, the new foundation can really begin its important and necessary work. As a breast cancer survivor, this gives me great pride, aside from being a mother and from becoming cancer-free.”

What does Women’s History Month mean to you?

“Women’s History Month means recognition of the important contributions that women in our society have made.  These contributions help teach us how we all can help improve our community as a whole. I personally would like to make a positive difference in my community and have worked to set an example for my daughter.”