Contacts: Vicky Cooke Susan Arnot Heaney
Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition, Inc. Avon Foundation
(302) 778-1102 (212) 282-5664
AVON FOUNDATION BREAST CARE FUND AWARDS GRANT
FOR BREAST CANCER AWARENESS PROGRAM TO
THE DELAWARE BREAST CANCER COALITION
Wilmington, DE/February 9, 2005 – The Avon Foundation Breast Care Fund has awarded a $50,000 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 assist women in receiving screenings. This is the fourth year that DBCC has received Avon Foundation funding to support its work on this important health issue, and in recognition of the excellence of the program. This grant is especially meaningful as it comes during the 50th anniversary year of the Avon Foundation.
Through partnerships with faith-based and community-based organizations, the FAME (Female Advocates for Mammography and Education) breast health program at DBCC will educate women throughout Delaware about breast health and refer them for free or low-cost breast cancer screenings. This vital program will reach out to African American women and Hispanic women with culturally competent programming from the MAAM Coalition – Mature African Americans for Mammography – and Mujeres pro Salud Promotoras (Women for Health Peer Health Educators).
Since January 2002, the FAME program at DBCC has reached more than 10,000 women with information about the importance of early detection of breast cancer and has referred thousands for free or low-cost screenings. Special outreach has targeted medically underserved women, those without health insurance, as well as those with barriers to accessing health care.
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, 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 14 minutes. While advances have been made in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, 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 women and medically underserved women.
“Many factors – fear, language barriers, lack of insurance, lack of transportation – keep women from practicing good breast health,” says Vicky Cooke, Executive Director of DBCC. “There is a tremendous need to reach women with information and resources,” adds Cooke. “We are grateful that the Avon Foundation shares this mission, and has chosen to support our program.”
The Avon Foundation has funded more than 800 community-based breast health programs across the United State since 1993, including FAME 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, was founded in 1955 with the mission to improve the lives of women, and in 2005, celebrates half a century of helping women and their families. The mission is focused on programs that support women’s empowerment, including the issue of domestic violence, and breast cancer, focusing on access to care and finding a cure for breast cancer.
First launched in the U.K. in 1992, the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade now supports programs to raise funds for and awareness of breast cancer in 50 countries around the globe. As of November 2004, the Avon Crusade has raised and returned more than $350,000,000 net to breast cancer research and care organizations worldwide. The wide range of Avon Breast Cancer Crusade fundraising programs include the sale of special Crusade “pink ribbon” products by Avon independent Sales Representatives, concerts, races, and other special events around the world; the Kiss Goodbye to Breast Cancer global campaign; direct donations; and the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer series of weekend fundraising events in the U.S.
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 at DBCC as one of 123 new grant recipients nationwide in the 2005 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.
The Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition, Inc. (DBCC)
DBCC was established in 1991 by a small group of community volunteers 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. DBCC supports the National Breast Cancer Coalition and their efforts to research the causes of breast cancer and pursue optimal treatments and cures. DBCC offers a variety of programs, including educational workshops for community groups and mentorship for those affected by breast cancer. For more information, call 1-866-312-DBCC (3222), or visit our website at www.debreastcancer.org.
For More Information
For more information on the FAME program at DBCC, please call 1-866-321-DBCC (3222). 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.
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