Dallas County Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure® Provides Breast Health Assistance
Online, April 27, 2011 (Newswire.com) - DALLAS -The Dallas County Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, one of more than 125 Affiliates nationwide dedicated to putting an end to breast cancer, recently provided community grants totaling $1.9 million to support Dallas County breast health education, breast cancer screening and treatment programs. An additional $679,829 was also provided to the National Susan G. Komen for the Cure® Grants Program for research, bringing the Dallas County Affiliate's 2011-2012 grant pool to $2.59 million.
"The Komen Dallas County Affiliate's major contribution in the fight against breast cancer is to minimize the impact of breast cancer until the cures are found. This is accomplished through local grants for education, screening, treatment, financial assistance for breast cancer patients and our Affiliate managed educational outreach," said Jennifer Legere, Komen Dallas County Affiliate executive director. "We have identified specific, unmet breast health needs within our community and are filling the gaps by delivering the life-saving message of early detection is the best protection and providing breast health assistance to medically-underserved breast cancer patients and their families through our community grants."
Up to 75 percent of funds raised by a Komen Affiliate remains in the community to fund local breast health education and breast cancer screening and treatment programs. Remaining net income (a minimum of 25 percent) supports the National Susan G. Komen for the Cure® Grants Program, which funds groundbreaking breast cancer research, meritorious awards and educational and scientific programs around the world.
The Dallas County Affiliate's local fundraising efforts, such as the Komen Dallas Race for the Cure®, have enabled it to fund these community outreach organizations and their various projects:
• The American Cancer Society - Provides support to breast health patients by offering breast prosthetics, wigs and transportation to treatment at no cost to uninsured and underinsured patients. Services are accessed through a collaborative network of cancer treatment centers and American Cancer Society resource centers. www.cancer.org
• Asian Breast Health Outreach Project (ABHOP) - ABHOP hosts seminars conducted in native language by physicians, nurses or outreach staff with language specific breast health materials. Screening mammograms and referrals are provided at no cost through the Center for Women's Health at Methodist Richardson Medical Center for low-income, medically underserved Asian women. www.AsianBreastHealth.org
• Bridge of Blessings - Provides temporary financial assistance to qualified individuals undergoing treatment for breast, ovarian, uterine or endometrial cancer. www.bridgeofblessings.org
• The Bridge Breast Network - Provides low income, uninsured individuals with breast health services for diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. Services include breast health education and awareness, biopsies, breast surgery, radiology, chemotherapy and radiation oncology therapy. www.bridgebreast.org
• Methodist Health Systems - In conjunction with local congregational community organizations, seeks to provide breast health education and screening mammography services to the medically underserved in Dallas County. Additional funding is available to aid in the follow-up care of abnormalities that may be detected from the screening exam, or for clients that may be experiencing a breast problem which would require diagnostic imaging. www.methodisthealthsystem.org
• Parkland Health and Hospital System - Through its mobile mammography unit and their Cancer Prevention and Intervention Program they provide mammography screenings, case management and breast education. www.parklandhospital.com
• Planned Parenthood of North Texas - Provides low-income and uninsured women with life saving mammography and breast health education. www.plannedparenthood.org/north-texas
• Small Pearls of Hope - Assists female residents of Dallas County who have been diagnosed with breast cancer and are experiencing financial distress. They provide financial and emotional support. www.smallpearlsofhope.org
• Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas - Operates "Screening, Education, Assessment, Registered Nurse Consultation, Help (SEARCH) Program", designed to help women become knowledgeable about breast cancer and proactive about their own breast health care.
• UT Southwestern Medical Center of Dallas/Center for Breast Care - Mammography Unit - Provides digital mobile mammography unit to Dallas County communities to provide local mammography screening events, breast cancer awareness and education through the utilization of its mobile mammography unit.
• UT Southwestern Medical Center of Dallas/Center for Breast Care - Genetic Screening - UT Southwestern Medical Center, in collaboration with Parkland genetics project, provides genetic breast cancer screenings for pre-selected individuals participating through the Parkland Health and Hospital System.
• YWCA Women's Health Services - Provides free mammograms, diagnostic follow-ups and transportation assistance to women ages 35-64. The program uses YW Patient Navigators to guide women through the health care system and connect them with appropriate resources and supports. www.ywcadallas.org
About Susan G. Komen for the Cure® Dallas County Affiliate
The Komen Dallas County Affiliate, part of the Susan G. Komen Breast Foundation, is working to eradicate breast cancer as a life-threatening disease. The Affiliate supports advancing research, education, screening and treatment. The Affiliate is the leading voice on breast cancer awareness in Dallas County. For more information about breast health or breast cancer, visit the Komen Dallas County Affiliate's web site at www.komen-dallas.org.
About Susan G. Komen for the Cure®
Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever. In 1982, that promise became Susan G. Komen for the Cure and launched the global breast cancer movement. Today, Komen for the Cure is the world's largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures. Thanks to events like the Komen Race for the Cure, we have invested nearly $1.9 billion to fulfill our promise, becoming the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world. For more information about Susan G. Komen for the Cure, breast health or breast cancer, visit www.komen.org or call 1-877 GO KOMEN.
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