Hosted by St. Joseph’s/Candler, the September 30th event brings successful and inspirational speakers to SmartWomen of Savannah and the Lowcountry to raise money for the Telfair Mammography Fund.

Actress, author and entrepreneur Patricia Heaton has a second act to share in Savannah as the keynote speaker at the 24th annual St. Joseph’s/Candler SmartWomen Luncheon & Expo.

Patricia Heaton has been working in TV steadily for the past 25 years. She is best known for her role on Everybody Loves Raymond where she won two Emmy® Awards with seven nominations. She also starred on The Middle. Her recent comedy, Carol’s Second Act, helped inspire her best-selling book, “Your Second Act.” 

About the St. Joseph’s/Candler SmartWomen Luncheon & Expo

The SmartWomen Luncheon & Expo is an annual fundraiser that helps St. Joseph’s/Candler’s Telfair Mammography Fund to ensure all women have access to mammography and other breast health services, regardless of insurance status. In our region, approximately 25 percent of the population are under- or uninsured. 

Over the last several years, the Telfair Mammography Fund has seen an increase in utilization. The SmartWomen Luncheon & Expo has raised more than $2.5 million since its inception to provide much needed, additional monetary support. Last year, SmartWomen raised yet another record-breaking amount of over $280,000.

The SmartWomen media sponsors are WTOC, The Savannah Morning News and 98.7 The River.
We proudly and graciously welcome back Chatham Parkway Lexus and Hilton Head Lexus as our presenting sponsor. The company has been a strong supporter and longtime contributor to the Telfair Mammography Fund.

“SmartWomen has grown into the region’s premier event, one that people look forward to every year. From powerful speakers and an engaging expo, this shared experience is always a day to remember. But what matters most is the profound impact the Telfair Mammography Fund continues to have in our community. Alma and I are proud for Lexus to be the presenting sponsor of such an extraordinary event," said Winston Pittman, Sr., President/Owner of Chatham Parkway Lexus and Hilton Head Lexus. Alma is a former Foundation Board Member and allocation chair at St. Joseph’s/ Candler.

We also extend our gratitude to Savannah Chatham Imaging, who once again serves as the Speaker Sponsor and who also supports the Telfair Mammography Fund through their many years of service to our program.

“Over the years, we have seen, firsthand, the indelible mark SmartWomen has made on countless attendees,” said Dr. Robert Myers of Savannah Chatham Imaging. “Patricia Heaton is another exceptional speaker and representative who will undoubtably inspire many more women to join us in raising money for much-needed, life-saving breast health services. As always, we value our partnership with St. Joseph's/Candler for this incredible experience and worthy cause.”

The 2026 chair of SmartWomen, Dana Whitfield, said the event holds a very special place in her heart and the hearts of so many people in the community. She and the SmartWomen committee are hopeful the event will mark yet another banner year for spreading awareness. “As we celebrate our 24th annual Luncheon & Expo, we are reminded that increased screening leads to earlier detection, and earlier detection leads to less invasive and less intense treatment options. The committee is grateful for the community’s support. We know that every dollar raised ensures that uninsured and underinsured women in our region have access to mammograms that can make all the difference.”

SmartWomen Luncheon & Expo Details:

When: Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026
Where: Savannah Convention Center
Expo: 10 a.m.
Luncheon and program: Noon

Learn more 

For more information on SmartWomen sponsorship opportunities, please call the St. Joseph’s/Candler Foundations at 912-819-8683 or email sjcsmartwomen@sjchs.org.    


About Patricia Heaton

In addition to her acting and producing credits, Heaton launched a homewares line with Walmart to celebrate her love of entertaining. Her Emmy Award winning series, Patricia Heaton Parties, where she served up party friendly foods, led to her first cookbook, “Patricia Heaton’s Food for Family & Friends.” 

The New York Times bestselling author of “Motherhood and Hollywood — How to Get A Job Like Mine” is also a committed philanthropist and founding member of World Vision’s Celebrity Ambassador Network.


About Lexus

Lexus' passion for brave design, imaginative technology, and exhilarating performance enables the luxury lifestyle brand to create amazing experiences for its customers. Lexus began its journey in 1989 with two luxury sedans and a commitment to pursue perfection. Since then, Lexus has developed its lineup to meet the needs of global luxury customers in more than 90 countries. In the United States, Lexus vehicles are sold through 244 dealers offering a full lineup of luxury vehicles. With nine models incorporating Lexus Hybrid Drive, Lexus is the luxury hybrid leader. Lexus also offers nine F SPORT models, one F performance model and one F model. Lexus is committed to being a visionary brand that anticipates the future for luxury customers.


About St. Joseph’s/Candler

St. Joseph’s/Candler is a 714-bed, Magnet-designated health system for nursing excellence, with a focus on the latest technologies and research. It is anchored by St. Joseph’s Hospital, Candler Hospital plus the new Pooler and Bluffton campuses. Its comprehensive network includes centers of excellence for oncology, cardiovascular, neurosciences, women’s and children’s services, orthopedics, pulmonary medicine and a variety of other disease specialties. SJ/C's Nancy N. and J.C. Lewis Cancer & Research Pavilion has been selected to be part of the National Cancer Institute’s Community Oncology Research Program. St. Joseph’s/Candler is a not-for-profit health system serving 33 counties in southeast Georgia and three in the South Carolina Low Country and is the largest and only faith-based institution in the region.