For Immediate
Release
March 8, 2010
AVON
FOUNDATION BREAST CARE FUND AWARDS GRANT FOR BREAST CANCER
PROGRAM TO WHITMAN-WALKER CLINIC
Local Organization Recognized with
Support from National Program
WASHINGTON - The
Avon Foundation Breast Care Fund has awarded a $45,000 one-year
grant to Whitman-Walker Clinic to increase awareness of
the life-saving benefits of early detection of breast cancer.
It is the ninth year that the program has received Avon
Foundation for Women funding to support its work on this
important health issue and in recognition of the excellence
of the program.
In 2009, the Breast Health
Initiative of Whitman-Walker Clinic educated more than 1,000
women with information about the importance of early detection
of breast cancer, performed more than 550 clinical breast
exams and has referred 550 women for mammograms. This vital
program will continue to provide breast cancer screening
navigation in 2010. In addition, the Breast Health Initiative
will provide onsite mammography at Whitman-Walker Clinic
through its partnership with the George Washington University
Mammovan. The Breast Health Initiative will also implement
a peer health education program targeting underserved women
in Wards 6, 7 and 8.
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,
300 new cases of breast cancer will be detected in the District
of Columbia this year and 70 lives will be lost. Nationwide,
there is a new diagnosis every three minutes and a death
from breast cancer every 14 minutes. While advances have
been made in prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure,
early detection still affords the best opportunity for successful
treatment. Programs such as the Breast Health Initiative
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 for Women shares our mission and has chosen
to continue to support our program,” said Meghan Davies,
Deputy Director of Community Health at Whitman-Walker Clinic.
“With these funds we will be able to reach women with
information and resources about the importance of the early
detection of breast cancer."
Since 1993, the Avon Foundation
for Women has awarded more than 1,300 grants to community-based
breast health programs across the United States, including
the Breast Health Initiative at Whitman-Walker Clinic. These
programs are dedicated to educating underserved women about
breast cancer and linking them to early detection screening
services.
The Avon Foundation
for Women and Breast Cancer Crusade
The Avon Foundation for Women,
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 $640 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 125 new grant recipients nationwide in the 2010 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 the
Breast Health Initiative of Whitman-Walker Clinic, please
call Meghan Davies at 202-797-4454. 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 for Women, 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.
Established in 1978, Whitman-Walker
Clinic is a non-profit, community-based provider of health
care in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area. Through two
sites in the District of Columbia, the Clinic offers primary
medical and dental care; mental health and addictions counseling
and treatment; HIV education, prevention, and testing; legal
services; and medical adherence case management. Whitman-Walker
Clinic is committed to meeting the health needs of the gay,
lesbian, bisexual and transgender community and people living
with HIV/AIDS.
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