|
Toms River, NJ- March 7, 2012 – The Avon Breast Health Outreach Program has awarded a $42,155 one-year grant to Community Medical Center to increase awareness of the life-saving benefits of early detection of breast cancer over the age of 50. It is the twelfth year that the program has received funding from the Avon Foundation for Women to support its work on this important health issue and in recognition of the program’s excellence.
The Breast Health Education Program at Community Medical Center will educate Ocean County women and refer them to low-cost or free mammograms and clinical breast exams in their own communities. The vital program will also conduct Breast Health Awareness Bingo sessions to women’s groups throughout the county to provide an informal and fun way to discuss issues related to the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. The program will also help to address and alleviate any barriers to obtaining breast health screenings.
Since January of 2002 the Breast Health Education Program at Community Medical Center has reached more than 25,000 women with information about the importance of early detection of breast cancer and has referred almost 7,500 women for mammograms and clinical breast exams.
Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women in the United States, and the leading single cause of death overall in women between the ages of 40 and 55. According to the American Cancer Society, 6,970 new cases of breast cancer will be detected in New Jersey this year and 39,930 lives will be lost throughout the United States. Nationwide, there is a new diagnosis every three minutes and a death from breast cancer every 14 minutes. While advances have been made in prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure, early detection still affords the best opportunity for successful treatment. Programs such as the Breast Health Education Program help ensure that all women have access to early detection information and options, even poor and medically underserved women.
“We are proud that the Avon Foundation for Women shares our mission and has chosen to support our program. With these funds we will be able to provide a fun, interactive educational program for the women of Ocean County. We will be able to discuss the various barriers that a woman may have regarding breast health screenings. The program will also provide the opportunity for the attendees to share personal experiences and to alleviate any concerns a woman may have,” says Karen Purcell, Program Coordinator, Breast Health Education Program at Community Medical Center.
Since 1993, the Avon Foundation has awarded more than 1,550 grants to community-based breast health programs across the United States, including the Breast Health Education Program at Community Medical Center. These programs are dedicated to educating underserved women about breast cancer and linking them to early detection screening services.
For more Information
For more information on the Breast Health Education Program at Community Medical Center, please call Karen Purcell at 732-557-3208. For more information about breast cancer, contact the American Cancer Society at 1-800-ACS-2345 or www.cancer.org, or the National Cancer Institute at 1-800-4-CANCER or www.cancer.gov.
The Avon Foundation for Women and Breast Cancer Crusade
The Avon Foundation for Women, an accredited 501(c)(3) public charity, was founded in 1955 to improve the lives of women and today is the world’s largest corporate-affiliated philanthropy focused on issues that matter most to women. The Avon Breast Cancer Crusade, which observes its 20th anniversary in 2012, has placed Avon at the forefront of the fight against breast cancer; today, Avon is the leading corporate supporter of the cause globally. In the 20 years since the Crusade’s launch, Avon breast cancer programs in 58 countries have donated more than $740 million for research and advancing access to care, regardless of a person’s ability to pay. Avon raises funds for the Crusade through the sale of Avon “Pink Ribbon” products, and through events and walks, such as the U.S. Avon Walk for Breast Cancer series, which is the Foundation’s largest fund-raising source.
The Avon Breast Health Outreach Program
The Avon Breast Health Outreach Program is administered by Cicatelli Associates Inc. to support community-based, non-profit breast health programs across the country. The Fund's National Advisory Board selected the Breast Health Education Program at Community Medical Center as one of 120 new grant recipients nationwide in the 2012 cycle of Avon Breast Health Outreach Program grants. These organizations were chosen based on their ability to effectively reach women, particularly minority, low-income, and older women, who are often medically underserved.
CONTACT: Jean M. Flaherty
Director, Marketing
732.557.2296
jflaherty@barnabashealth.org
Karyn Margolis
Avon Foundation for Women
(212) 282-5666
karyn.margolis@avonfoundation.org
[ top ]
|
