News
Local Breast Cancer Organizations Benefit from More than $915,000 in Grants
Susan G. Komen For the Cure Miami/Ft. Lauderdale Affiliate
Awards 18 Breast Cancer Education and Screening Grants
MIAMI, March 28, 2007 - Susan G. Komen For the Cure Miami/Ft. Lauderdale
Affiliate today announced it raised more than $1.5 million in the fiscal year ending March 2007 to support the fight against breast cancer. The money will fund 18 grants to a diverse group of not-for-profit health care organizations, public health agencies and community groups that further the Komen mission.
More than 7,000 medically underserved individuals will be impacted by the grant
dollars provided for mammograms and thousands more will be impacted by education and awareness programs.
In accordance with Komen’s guidelines, seventy-five percent of the net dollars
raised through local events, including the annual Race for the Cure®, will stay in the local community to fund breast cancer screening, education and awareness initiatives. The remaining 25 percent will be pooled with Komen’s national efforts to fund research programs. This year more than $915,000 will stay in the local community. “There are many organizations in our local community that focus on finding a cure for breast cancer and educating the public to increase awareness and prevention,” said Bobbi Meyers, executive director of the foundation’s Miami/Fort Lauderdale Affiliate. “Each year our goal is to provide these organizations with the funding they need to meet their goals and contribute to the overall cause of eradicating breast cancer.”
The 2007 grant recipients are:
Broward County Health Department’s Breast and Cervical Cancer Initiative – The proposed project will allow women age 50 and older who meet the health insurance and economic requirements of the program to receive imaging, surgical consultations and advanced diagnostic procedures such as a breast MRI and biopsy.
Broward County Libraries’ Breast Cancer Project – To update the collection
of breast cancer and breast health resources through the addition of 200 books,
magazines, videos and by giving away approximately 100 books related to breast
cancer to the community.
Community Life Support Inc. (Health Education for Early Detection of
Breast Cancer) – To provide 400 breast exams, mammogram referrals, distribute multi- lingual educational materials and host workshops to underserved communities. The clinic’s staff speaks Creole, English, French, Spanish, Urdu, Gujrati and Hindi.
Fanm Ayisyen Nan Miyami Inc. (Women Hand in Hand) – To provide Haitian women with breast health education and mammogram referrals, while providing case management and other support services, including transportation, daycare and counseling, to Haitian women diagnosed with breast cancer.
Foundation for the Memorial Healthcare System (Project Imani) – To provide free screening and diagnostic mammograms, biopsies and links to additional diagnostic procedures and treatment at Memorial Healthcare System to underserved minority women in Broward and northern Miami-Dade counties.
Genetic Risk Education Services of Baptist Hospital Health South Florida – To offer free education and facilitation of genetic susceptibility testing for hereditary breast cancer to medically underserved minorities and low-income individuals with a family history of breast cancer.
La Liga Contra el Cancer Inc. – To provide free cancer care service to
uninsured, low-income individuals and the indigent population in South Florida.
Memorial Foundation’s Breast Cancer Genetic Testing – To fund risk
assessment screening and counseling services for low-income individuals with a strong family history of breast cancer. Individuals at high risk for carrying a breast cancer gene mutation are provided testing and counseling at the Memorial Cancer Institute.
Miami-Dade Area Health Education Center – To expand its breast health
curriculum, “Hands on Health,” and educate more than 2,800 young people in Miami- Dade County public and private schools. The grant will expand this year’s program to Broward public and private schools, including alternative youth sites such as church youth groups and local colleges.
Midas Touch Institute for Physical Therapy and Lymphedema Therapy – To provide underprivileged, uninsured or underinsured individuals with treatments and custom fitting garments to physically reduce and control signs and symptoms of lymphedema.
North Broward Hospital District (Every Woman Matters) – To provide breast care, breast cancer education, clinical breast exams, mammograms and follow-up treatment if diagnosed with the disease to medically underserved women, ages 40-49, residing in the northern two-thirds of Broward County.
Open Door Health Center – To provide breast cancer education programs to
300 uninsured women over the age of 20 who predominantly reside in rural
communities within Miami-Dade County. The clinic’s staff speaks Creole, English and Spanish.
Project Access Foundation – To provide breast cancer education outreach and
screening programs for uninsured and underinsured women of Miami-Dade and
Broward counties.
Sunshine Social Services Inc. – To increase awareness of breast health
prevention, screening and treatment services for women who partner with women in Miami-Dade and Broward counties with a specific emphasis on women of African American descent.
uninsured, low-income individuals and the indigent population in South Florida.
St. John Bosco Clinic – To provide diagnostic mammograms and education to
underserved women in Little Havana and the community without access to healthcare.
University of Miami Center for Cancer Prevention and Genetics – To fund
genetic testing and counseling for a large uninsured minority population at Jackson Memorial Hospital.
The Wellness Community Greater Miami – To support “Return to Wellness for Breast Cancer Patients,” for people affected by cancer, to enhance their health and well-being through participation in professional programs of emotional support and education. In addition, the organization is introducing an African American Outreach Program.
YWCA of Greater Miami’s Breast Cancer Screening and Education Program – To provide education, referrals for screening and follow-up diagnostic mammograms, ultrasounds and biopsies to uninsured, low-income minority women in Miami-Dade and South Broward counties. The program also educates incarcerated women about breast cancer with bi-monthly visits to correctional facilities.
About the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen For the Cure - The Miami/Fort Lauderdale Affiliate is dedicated to eradicating breast cancer as a life-threatening disease by advancing research, education, screening and treatment. Since its inception in 1996, the Miami/Fort Lauderdale Race For the Cure® and the Affiliate has raised more than $4.5 million and reached hundreds of thousands of women and men in educational outreach through grassroots efforts. For more information visit, www.komenmiaftl.org.
The Affiliate funds local mission and education projects. The Miami/Ft.
Lauderdale affiliate’s mission outreach provides mentoring for recently diagnosed breast cancer patients through its “A Buddie For You” program and includes a variety of outreach and educational programs in collaboration with local community organizations and entities.
The 2007 Miami/Fort Lauderdale Race For the Cure® will be held Saturday, Oct.
20, at Bayfront Park in Miami. For additional information or to volunteer, call (305) 666- RACE or visit www.footworksmiami.com.
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