Mary K. Pluta Awarded 2017 Woman of Distinction for 56th Senate District

Mary K. Pluta was born and raised in Rochester, and has been an active member in the community for many years. The Pluta Family has made an enormous impact in Rochester in their fight against cancer. Established in 1975, the Pluta Cancer Center became New York’s first independent not-for-profit cancer center, and in 2012, merged with Strong Hospital and the University of Rochester Medical Center.

Ms. Pluta is a past Board Member of the Center, and has co-founded and co-chaired the Emerald Ball and the Tres Chic Fashion show in an effort to continue to raise funding for the Pluta Cancer Center Foundation. Recognizing that the emotional and unexpected financial costs of cancer can be overwhelming to patients and their families, the Pluta Cancer Center Foundation is able to provide the funds necessary to help meet patients’ daily living expenses as well as support by providing various integrative oncology programs. Ms. Pluta and her husband, Ron, are also past co-chairs for the Make-A-Wish Gala.

When her children were younger and attended The St. Louis School, Ms. Pluta co-founded and co-chaired Gaining Assets for Learning Advancement (GALA). This annual fundraiser raises money for the technology program and classroom curriculum at the school. She has also co-chaired McQuaid Jesuit High School’s BASH and Our Lady of Mercy High School’s Gala.

Ms. Pluta has continued her community involvement by working in various capacities for several professional golf tournaments. She has volunteered and worked the 1980 PGA Championship, the 1989 U.S. Open, the 1998 U.S. Amateur, the 2003 PGA Championship and the 2013 PGA Championship. She also volunteered for the Diocesan Scholarship Golf Classic, which raises funds for inner city elementary schools.

Ms. Pluta continues to be diligent in finding ways to give back to the community she loves. She is currently a board member on the Pluta Cancer Center Foundation and the Wilmot Cancer Institute Advisory Board, and is honorary Co-Chair for the 2017 Scholarship Golf Tournament for St. John Fisher College.

Married for 37 years, Ron and Mary Pluta have three grown children, Andrew, Danny and Catherine. They are expecting their first grandchild this summer.