Power of the Promise Grants Reception 2011

The Northwest Ohio Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure will award nearly $550,000 in community grants to 15 non-profit organizations during “The Power of the Promise” reception. The event, sponsored by The Andersons, will be held Tuesday April 12, 2011 at 5:30 p.m. in the McMaster Center at the Toledo-Lucas County Main Library.

In addition to the community grants, Komen Northwest Ohio distributes an additional $480,000 annually.  Nearly $250,000 is distributed for community education and outreach purposes, and several awards fund small grants at less than $10,000. An additional $230,000 is directed to support life-saving research at the national level. All funds, distributed throughout the 24 county service area, are possible due to the generous contributions and local community support of Komen Northwest Ohio events such as the annual Komen Northwest Ohio Race for the Cure.

The community grants to be awarded on April 12 include:

Allen County Health Department- $47,752

• The goal of the “Women’s Preventive Healthcare Project is to alleviate the threat of breast cancer in women and men.  The project provides screening mammograms for residents who reside in Allen, Auglaize, Hancock, Hardin, Mercer, Putnam, and Van Wert counties who are uninsured and 200% of federal income guidelines.

Blanchard Valley Health System- $28,800

• The goal of the “Hancock County Mammography Screening Initiative” is to provide screening and diagnostic mammography service to uninsured and underinsured men and women who reside in Hancock County.  The project will provide mammograms, ultrasounds, biopsies , ductograms, and MRIs to residents that are at-risk for breast cancer.

ProMedica Cancer Institute- $40,000

• The goal of the C.A.R.E.S. (Collaboration, Access, Reduction of barriers, Empowerment and Screening) project is to ensure that women and men have access to recommended clinical breast exams, screening mammograms, education and navigational support for breast cancer prevention and early detection.   The project provides services to men and women in Hancock, Lucas, Ottawa, Seneca, and Wood counties.

Fulton County Health Department- $85,000

• The goal of “A Woman First” project is to lower breast cancer mortality in Northwest Ohio through early breast cancer detection.  The project provides breast health education, screening mammograms, diagnostic services (i.e. mammograms, ultrasounds, biopsies), and interpreter services.  The project services low income, uninsured residents of Defiance, Erie, Fulton, Henry, Lucas, Ottawa, Paulding, Sandusky, Wood, and Williams counties in Ohio. 

Hospital Council of Northwest Ohio- $104,461.00

• The goal of the “YES MAMM!” project is to increase awareness and utilization of breast cancer prevention, screening, and treatment resources available through six partner hospitals within 7 Ohio counties in the Komen Northwest Ohio Affiliate.  Each of the six hospitals will facilitate one or two day screening events for uninsured patients in their service area.  The partnering hospitals are Henry County Hospital (Henry County), Fisher Titus Medical Center (Huron and Erie counties), Magruder Hospital (Ottawa and Erie counties), Paulding County Hospital (Paulding County), Memorial Hospital (Sandusky County), and Wood County Hospital (Wood County).  The project will impact the 7-county region by increasing mammography screening rates and increasing breast health knowledge.

Mercy Tiffin Hospital- $19,686

• The goal of the “Mammogram Assistance” project is to increase access to breast cancer screenings and lower breast cancer mortality.  The project provides mammograms to low income and uninsured residents of Huron, Seneca and Wyandot counties.

Mercy Memorial Hospital- $28,000

• The goal of the “Put Yourself First Today!” is to increase access to breast cancer screening and diagnostic services in Monroe County, Michigan.  The project provides screening and diagnostic mammograms, ultrasounds and MRI to uninsured and underinsured residents of Monroe County, Michigan. 

Mercy Women’s Care at St. Anne’s and St. Charles- $50,750

• The goal of the “Mammography Assistance Program (MAP)” is to provide comprehensive breast cancer education and screening for low income residents of Monroe County, Michigan and Lucas, Ottawa, and Wood counties in Ohio.  Outreach and education is implemented by reaching out to residents in churches, homeless shelter, and community centers.   Mammogram screening services are provided at three Mercy Health Partner Hospitals: St. Anne, St. Charles, and St. Vincent.

North Coast Cancer Foundation- $20,000

• The goal of the “Breast Cancer Initiative” is to provide access to treatment options and reduce financial hardships for financially eligible breast cancer patients.  The project provides assistance with radiation treatment for breast cancer patients in Erie, Huron, Ottawa, Sandusky and Seneca counties.

Putnam County Health Department- $12,256

• The goal of the “Putnam County Breast Health Project” is to increase access to breast cancer screenings in Putnam County to identify breast cancer early and therefore lower the mortality rate.  Men and women that are uninsured or underinsured will have access to mammograms, breast ultrasounds, and biopsies. The project will work with physician offices and local media outlets to increase awareness of breast health and identify high risk individuals in need.

St. Luke’s Hospital Foundation- $29,284

• The goal of the “Mammograms for Men and Women” project is to decrease the death rates from breast cancer through early detection and treatment.   The project provides clinical breast exam clinics and mammograms for uninsured men and women in Fulton, Henry, Lucas, Ottawa, and Wood counties. 

The Victory Center- $18,000

• The goal of the “Discovering Inner Strength: Support for Women with Breast Cancer”  is that women living with breast cancer will experience a higher level of coping with their diagnosis through participation in free, safe, and effective complementary therapies.   The project conducts a monthly Breast Cancer Survivor Support Group and a Breast Cancer Caregiver Support Group.  The project provides breast cancer patients and survivors with services that support the mind and body such as massage, reflexology, reiki, healing touch, meditation, facials, counseling, yoga and Healthy Steps exercise.

Toledo-Lucas County CareNet- $37,500

• The goal of the “CareNet- Helping to Keep the Komen Promise” is to reduce barriers to attaining/maintain breast health for low income residents of Lucas County.  The project assists low income, uninsured residents receive mammograms, breast cancer treatment and breast health educational materials while reducing barriers such as cost and transportation.  Partners of the project include ProMedica Health System, Mercy Health Partners, University of Toledo Medical Center, St. Luke’s Hospital, The Pharmacy Counter, Toledo Area Transit Authority, and volunteer surgeons and oncologists.

Wood County Health Department- $13,785

• The purpose of the “Wood County Women’s Breast Health project is to provide breast cancer preventative and educational services to under and uninsured women in Wood County, Ohio.  The project will provide clinical breast exams through the Wood County Health Department, and screening and diagnostic mammograms at the Wood County Hospital.   The project will decrease breast cancer mortality rates in the county through decreasing barriers and increasing access to care, education and early detection for under and uninsured women.  

Wyandot County Health Department- $13,200

• The goal of the “Wyandot County Breast Health Initiative” is to provide access to breast health education and breast cancer screening.  The project will collaborate with Wyandot Memorial Hospital, private medical provides, and other community partners to identify low to middle income residents in need of a mammogram, breast ultrasound, and referral services.   The project provides breast cancer screening and diagnostic mammograms, breast ultrasounds, transportation assistance and care coordination for residents in Wyandot County.

About Susan G. Komen for the Cure® and the Komen Northwest Ohio Affiliate 

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. The Northwest Ohio Affiliate of Komen for the Cure is working to better the lives of those facing breast cancer in our 24 county service area. Through events like the Komen Northwest Ohio Race for the Cure, the Komen Northwest Ohio Affiliate has invested $7 million dollars in local breast health and breast cancer awareness projects in 24 counties in Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan. Up to 75 percent of net proceeds generated by the Affiliate stay in Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan. The remaining income goes to the national Susan G. Komen for the Cure Grants Program to fund research. For more information, call 419-724 CURE or 1-877-604-CURE, or visit www.komennwohio.org.