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Komen Tulsa Affiliate Awards $420,000 to Local Organizations to Aid Breast Cancer Fight

Posted on: Friday, 27 February 2009, 10:49 CST

TULSA, Okla., Feb. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- The Tulsa Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure has selected five Tulsa-based non-profit organizations to receive grant awards totaling $420,000, with an additional $143,215 earmarked for national breast cancer research.

The recipients, which include Indian Health Care Resource Center, St. John Medical Center, Tulsa Project Woman, Inc., Breast Cancer Network of Strength - Northeastern Oklahoma Affiliate and Morton Comprehensive Health Services, Inc., will help Komen for the Cure reach its promise to save lives and end breast cancer forever by empowering people, ensuring quality care for all and energizing science to find the cures.

"The Komen Tulsa Affiliate continues to grow in its ability to grant more money each year," said LeAnne Taylor, President of the Komen Tulsa Board of Directors. "This allows us to provide vital funding for breast cancer services for women who would otherwise be unable to afford them. This is great news for the underserved women in Tulsa who need access to information and the breast cancer services that our non-profit grant recipients provide. They are our front-line defense against breast cancer in the Tulsa community, and we appreciate them greatly."

All of the grant recipient organizations have demonstrated a commitment to making a difference in the lives of Tulsa residents through their breast health programs. A maximum of 75 percent of the net funds raised from the Susan G. Komen Tulsa Race for the Cure and other events remains in Tulsa. A minimum of 25 percent of the net funds - in this case, $143,215 - will help to fund the national Susan G. Komen for the Cure Grants Program.

The $420,000 in local grants was awarded as follows:

• Indian Health Care Resource Center - $105,689: This program will provide breast cancer education, clinical exams and screening services to low- and moderate-income Native American women who lack insurance coverage. Self-exam instruction is also provided.
• St. John Health System - $5,000: St. John's innovative wig/head covering program provides fresh, updated wigs, hats and head coverings for women undergoing cancer treatment. The wigs and head coverings are loaned at no charge to an estimated 200 women who request them every year.
• Tulsa Project Woman, Inc. - $189,136: This is a comprehensive program that brings together numerous health care facilities throughout the city to work together to provide breast health care and education to uninsured women with limited financial resources. This program provides clinical breast exams, breast health education, mammography screening, diagnostic and surgical services and has provided breast health care for more than 15,000 women since its inception.
• Breast Cancer Network of Strength - Northeastern Oklahoma Affiliate - $31,165: Breast Cancer Network of Strength's program provides immediate emotional relief to those affected by a breast cancer diagnosis through support groups meeting monthly. Grant funds will also be used for Camp Hope, a day retreat for breast cancer survivors.
• Morton Comprehensive Health Services, Inc. - $89,010: This program provides a complete circle of care to women who have cultural and economic barriers that prevent them from seeking primary and preventative breast health screenings. Through this program Morton will provide breast education at community sites and no-cost clinical breast exams and transportation for mammography services.

Grants are offered to organizations that can demonstrate innovative projects in the areas of breast health and/or breast cancer education, outreach, screening or treatment support. This includes projects targeting services not otherwise available to the medically underserved populations of the Tulsa Metropolitan area.

In the 12 years it has hosted the Komen Race for the Cure, the Tulsa Affiliate has awarded nearly $4 million in local and national grants.

About Susan G. Komen for the Cure(R)

Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever. In 1982, that promise became Susan G. Komen for the Cure and launched the global breast cancer movement. Today, Komen for the Cure is the world's largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures. Thanks to events like the Komen Race for the Cure(R), we have invested more than $1.3 billion to fulfill our promise, becoming the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world. For more information about Susan G. Komen for the Cure, breast health or breast cancer, visit www.komen.org or call 1-877 GO KOMEN.

SOURCE Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Tulsa Affiliate

Source: PR Newswire

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