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AVON FOUNDATION BREAST CARE FUND AWARDS GRANT FOR BREAST CANCER AWARENESS PROGRAM TO COMMUNITY MEDICAL CENTER
Local Organization Recognized With Support From National Program
Toms River, N.J., April 3, 2008 – The Avon Foundation Breast Care Fund has awarded a $40,000 one-year grant to Community Medical Center to increase awareness of the life-saving benefits of early detection of breast cancer for the underserved women in Ocean County. It is the sixth year that the program has received Avon Foundation funding to support its work on this important health issue, and in recognition of the excellence of the program.
The Ocean County Breast Health Education and Early Detection Program at Community Medical Center will educate Ocean County area women and refer them to low-cost or free mammograms and clinical breast exams in their own communities The vital program will provide access to free mammography services to those who qualify. Breast health clinics are conducted in partnership with the Family Planning Center of Ocean County, the Ocean County Health Department, the Long Beach Island Health Department and Island Medical Associates.
Since January of 2008 the Breast Health Education and Early Detection Program in Ocean County at has reached more than 980 women with information about the importance of early detection of breast cancer and has referred almost 150 women for mammograms and clinical breast exams.
Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women in the U.S., and the leading single cause of death overall in women between the ages of 40 and 55. According to the American Cancer Society, 40,480 new cases of breast cancer will be detected in the US this year and in New Jersey, 1,400 lives will be lost. Nationwide, there is a new diagnosis every three minutes and a death from breast cancer every fourteen minutes. While advances have been made in prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure, early Breast Health Education and Early Detection Program detection still affords the best opportunity for successful treatment. Programs such as the 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 shares our mission and has chosen to support our program. With these funds we will be able to provide the much needed education and access to screenings for the underserved women of Ocean County ,” says Karen Purcell, Program Coordinator, Ocean County, Cancer Education and Early Detection Program.
Since 1993, the Avon Foundation has awarded more than 1,000 grants to community-based breast health programs across the United States, including Breast Health Education and Early Detection Program at Community Medical Center. These programs are dedicated to educating underserved women about breast cancer and linking them to early detection screening services.
The Avon Foundation and Breast Cancer Crusade
The Avon Foundation, an accredited 501(c)(3) public charity, was founded in 1955 to improve the lives of women and their families. Now past the half century milestone, the Foundation brings this mission to life through the Speak Out Against Domestic Violence program and the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade, which raises funds and awareness to advance access to care and finding a cure for breast cancer, with a focus on the medically underserved. Since 1992 the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade has raised and awarded more than $525 million worldwide for medical research; access to care; support services; screening and diagnostics; and education and awareness. The largest fundraising program in the U.S. is the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer series.
The Avon Foundation Breast Care Fund
The Avon Foundation Breast Care Fund 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 {name of your program} at {name of your organization} as one of 143 new grant recipients nationwide in the 2008 cycle of Avon Foundation Breast Care Fund 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.
For more Information
For more information on {name of your program} at {name of your organization}, please call {name} at {phone}. 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.
To learn more about the Avon Foundation, call 1-866-505-AVON or visit www.avonfoundation.org, where you can also access the free printable Breast Health Resource Guide in English and Spanish. For information or to register or support the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer events, visit www.avonwalk.org or call 1-888-540-WALK.
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