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Komen Tulsa Affiliate Awards $265,000 to Local Organizations to Aid Breast Cancer Fight

Posted on: Tuesday, 23 January 2007, 12:00 CST

TULSA, Okla., Jan. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- The Tulsa Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure has selected four Tulsa-based non-profit organizations to receive grant awards totaling $265,000, with an additional $92,707 earmarked for national breast cancer research. The announcement was made today by Affiliate President Chris Payne during a ceremony at Indian Health Care Resource Center of Tulsa, one of this year's grant recipients.

The recipients, which include Indian Health Care Resource Center of Tulsa, St. John Health System, Tulsa Project Woman, Inc. and Y-Me National Breast Cancer Organization - Northeastern Oklahoma Affiliate, 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 blazed new trails in 2006, and we're extremely proud of the accomplishments we've made," said Payne. "In addition to raising nearly $578,000 with the Tulsa Race for the Cure and other events, we have invested in our future by hiring the organization's first executive director, Christy Southard. This is a great move for Tulsa, our Affiliate and our grantee organizations. First, it allows us to provide vital funding for breast cancer services for women who would otherwise be unable to afford them, and also, because we are better positioned for the future by having a person on staff who is focused on educational efforts in the community and on helping us to raise even more funding. 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(R) and other events remains in Tulsa. A minimum of 25 percent of the net funds -- in this case, $92,707 -- will help to fund the national Susan G. Komen Award and Research Grant Programs.

The $265,000 in local grants was awarded as follows: * Indian Health Care Resource Center - $55,800: This program will provide breast cancer education and screening services to low- and moderate-income women who lack insurance coverage. It is estimated that 500 Native American women over 40 years of age will receive mammograms and clinical breast exams as well as self-exam instruction. An additional 500 women under the age of 40 will receive self-exam instruction. * St. John Health System - $5,000: St. John's innovative wig "loaner" program provides fresh, updated wigs for women undergoing cancer treatment. The wigs are loaned at no charge to an estimated 200 women who request them every year. * Tulsa Project Woman, Inc. - $190,870: This program is a joint effort between various Tulsa-area health care institutions that provides access to breast health care and education to women with limited financial resources. This coalition provides clinical breast exams, breast health education, mammography screening and diagnostic studies to facilitate the early diagnosis of breast cancer and ultrasounds to eligible clients. Patients who require surgical consultation are referred to participating physicians. * Y-Me National Breast Cancer Organization - Northeastern Oklahoma Affiliate - $13,330: Y-ME's program provides peer support through seven facilitated support groups meeting monthly. Current groups include "Pink Ribbon Sisters" (those newly diagnosed with breast cancer), "Sisters Circle" (Native American), "Sister Survivors" (African American), "Hispanic," and those with "Special Needs."

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 ten years it has hosted the Komen Race for the Cure, the Tulsa Affiliate has awarded approximately $2.6 million in local and national grants.

About Susan G. Komen for the Cure

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, we have invested nearly $1 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 http://www.komen.org/ or call 1-800 I'M AWARE.

Tulsa Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure

CONTACT: public relations, Ashley Antle, +1-817-657-2406, orashley.antle@cox.net ; or Grant questions, Cyd Scott, +1-918-560-3207, orcscott@bcbsok.com , both for Tulsa Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure;or Grant Recipients, Robert Lawson, D.O., Medical Director, +1-918-382-1245,or Dianne Hughes, Clinic Administrator, +1-918-382-1246, both of Indian HealthCare Resource Center of Tulsa; or Julie Kinzie of St. John Health System,+1-918-744-3189; or Anne Bogie of Tulsa Project Woman, Inc., +1-918-808-4042;or Beth Cordingly of Y-Me National Breast Cancer Organization, NortheasternOklahoma Affiliate, +1-918-494-8808

Web site: http://www.komen.org/

Source: PRNewswire

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