FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts: Victoria G. Cooke
Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition, Inc.
(302) 778-1102
vcooke@debreastcancer.org
Susan Arnot Heaney
Avon Foundation
(212) 282-5668
susan.heaney@avonfoundation.org
AVON FOUNDATION BREAST CARE FUND AWARDS GRANT FOR BREAST CANCER AWARENESS PROGRAM TO DELAWARE BREAST CANCER COALITION
Local Organization Recognized With Support From National Program
WILMINGTON, DE/January 24, 2006 – The Avon Foundation Breast Care Fund has awarded a $55,000 one-year grant to the Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition, Inc. (DBCC) to increase awareness of the life-saving benefits of early detection of breast cancer and to provide screening mammograms to women from underserved communities. It is the fifth 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 FAME Program – Female Advocates for Mammography and Education – at DBCC will educate women throughout the state and refer them to low-cost or free mammograms and clinical breast exams in their own communities and on the Women’s Mobile Health Screening van. This vital program will also work with faith-based and community-based organizations and health care providers throughout the state to reach women in need of breast cancer screenings. Peer Health Advocates will teach women about breast health and will provide referrals for free or reduced-cost screenings through providers such as the Women’s Mobile Health Screening, LLC.
Since January of 2002, the FAME Program at DBCC has reached more than 25,000 women with information about the importance of early detection of breast cancer and has referred almost 3,000 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. Based upon 2005 data from the American Cancer Society, DBCC anticipates that 630 new cases of breast cancer will be detected in Delaware this year and 120 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 finding a cure, early detection still affords the best opportunity for successful treatment. Programs such as FAME help ensure that all women have access to early detection information and options, even poor and medically underserved women.
“We are honored that the Avon Foundation shares our mission and has chosen to support our program. With these funds we will be able to reach women throughout the entire state of Delaware with breast health education and screenings,” says Vicky Cooke, Executive Director of DBCC.
The Avon Foundation has funded more than 1,000 community-based breast health programs across the United States in the past twelve years, including the FAME Program at DBCC. 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, in 2005 celebrated its 50th anniversary committed to improving the lives of women. The Foundation currently brings this mission to life through the Speak Out Against Domestic Violence Program and the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade, which raises funds and awareness for 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 $400 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 the FAME Program of the Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition as one of 117 new grant recipients nationwide in the 2006 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
The Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition, Inc. (DBCC) was established by a small group of community volunteers in 1991. The mission of the agency is to empower our community by raising awareness of breast health issues through outreach, education, and support services in order to facilitate early detection and treatment of breast cancer. The vision of the agency is to create a community where every person diagnosed with breast cancer becomes a survivor, and fear and doubt are replaced with knowledge and hope. DBCC is a statewide agency with programs serving a diversity of communities, including young women with breast cancer, African American women, Latinas, and women who partner with women. DBCC supports the National Breast Cancer Coalition and their efforts to research the causes of breast cancer and pursue optimal treatments and cures. For more information about DBCC, call (302) 778-1102, or visit www.debreastcancer.org.
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 1-877-WALK-AVON.