Komen Northeast Ohio Grants More Than $1.5 Million for Local Breast Cancer Programs

(BUSINESS WIRE) Susan G. Komen for the Cure Northeast Ohio has announced that it is contributing $1.5 million to 25 organizations throughout the area for projects that support its promise to end breast cancer forever. These grants set a new record for Komen -both in the dollars funded- and the number of agencies it has been able to support.

These grants will enable thousands of women across Northeast Ohio to receive life saving screening, while also enhancing breast cancer education programs and survivor support. Local agencies from several counties were chosen for their innovative breast cancer programs, with a specific focus on those that assist underinsured, uninsured or women living at the poverty line.

Although many of the grant recipients have previously received Komen support, this year three new organizations were selected for funding; Aultman Hospitals, University Hospitals MacDonald's Women Hospital and Care Alliance Health Center. "Care Alliance is delighted to become a new grant recipient from Komen Northeast Ohio," said Jenice Contreras, Director of Development at Care Alliance Health Center. "This funding will enable us to focus on providing outreach, education and patient navigation services to women who are low income, uninsured or underinsured, or who are homeless or residents at substance abuse treatment facilities, by providing them with breast cancer screening opportunities therefore reducing the number of women given late stage cancer diagnosis."

Hermione Malone, Manager of Community Outreach for the UH Ireland Cancer Center agrees that funding from Komen Northeast Ohio makes a huge impact on their ability to battle breast cancer with those most at risk. "It is gratifying that Susan G. Komen for the Cure not only values long-standing outreach programs such as the University Hospitals Ireland Cancer Center's Project T.E.M.P.L.E., but also eagerly funds new, innovative programs such as the UH MacDonald Women's Hospital Saturday Breast Exam Project."

"The combined grants will be valuable in meeting the needs of the low-income, underserved minority women that we serve and to ultimately save lives," added Nikki Polis, Ph.D, Director of UH MacDonald Women's Hospital and Women's Services.

Susan Kurzweil, President of Komen Northeast Ohio, is gratified to see the organization's resources impacting lives right in their own community. "We are thrilled to have the ability provide this record funding to organizations in who partner with us in our dedicated mission to save lives and end breast cancer forever," said Kurzweil. "We are confident that this year's grant recipients will make a significant contribution to achieving our goals."

The strong support of several key fundraising activities throughout the year enables Komen Northeast Ohio to make these donations. The annual Komen Northeast Ohio Race for the Cure included over 18,000 participants that helped to raise over $1.5 million in 2008 alone. The organization focuses on supporting innovative education, screening and survivor support programs that reach diverse, underserved populations across its newly expanded 22 county service area.

Information about the 2009-2010 grantees follows.

About Susan G. Komen for the Cure Northeast Ohio Affiliate

Since 1994, the Komen Northeast Ohio Affiliate has raised over $13 million to provide funding and support to Northeast Ohio agencies working to create a world without breast cancer. The agencies provide mammograms and treatment, breast cancer education and ongoing support to women, men, their families and friends. Up to seventy-five percent of the money raised locally funds programs in Northeast Ohio, and the remaining 25 percent helps fund the Susan G. Komen for the Cure National Research Grant Program. Our vision is to create a world without breast cancer.

Editor's Note: Susan G. Komen for the Cure, formerly known as The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation changed its name and identity in 2007, marking the organization's 25^th anniversary and more clearly defining its goal to not only raise breast cancer awareness, but to indeed find a cure.

2009/2010 Komen Northeast Ohio Grants
$51,750.00		Akron General Medical Center, The Breast Health Center Outreach Program
$89,088.00		American Cancer Society Northeast Region Ohio, B.E.S.T (Breast Education
		and Screening Together) Program
$50,866.96		Aultman Hospital, Filling the Gaps: Canton and Carroll County Project
$22,050.00		Care Alliance Health Center, SHOW ME (Shelter Health Outreach for Women)
$74,699.99		Columbiana County Health Department, CCHD Breast Health Education and
		Screening
$24,370.00		Community Health Partners Regional Foundation, ANGELS & AMIGAS-
		Uniting for a Common Cause
$106,232.00		Cuyahoga County Board of Health, Breast and Cervical Cancer Project
$25,000.00		The Free Medical Clinic of Greater Cleveland, Breast Health Awareness and
		Education Program
$63,731.00		Gathering Place
$83,282.50		JD Breast Cancer Foundation, Project Lifeline
$40,000.00		Karen P. Nakon Breast Cancer Foundation, One Less Worry
$76,110.00		Kent State University, Keep ABREAST (Keep Advocating for Breast Cancer
		Education
$82,183.20		Mennonite Christian Assembly Church, The Amish and Mennonite Breast
		Health Project
$90,700.00		Mercy Medical Center, Community Outreach and Breast Health Project
$144,781.15		MetroHealth System The MetroHealth Foundation, Fiscal Agent, Improving
		Access to Care: Bringing, Education, Advocacy and Support Together
$37,192.00		North Coast Health Ministry, Breast Health Education and Screening
$52,927.00		NorthEast Ohio Neighborhood Health Services, Inc., Mammogram
		Connection
$82,500.00		South Pointe Hospital, Northeast Ohio ANGEL Project
$58,153.70		Summit County Health District, Sharing the Story: Mammograms Save Lives!
$27,500.00		Trinity Health System, Trinity BCCP/ Komen Project
$46,563.00		University Hospitals Geneva Medical Center, Ashtabula County Rural
		Underserved Women's Project
$39,629.72		University Hospitals MacDonald Women's Hospital, SBE- Saturday Breast
		Exam Program
$76,117.96		University Hospitals Ireland Cancer Center, Project T.E.M.P.L.E A Breast
		Health Education Intervention for Cleveland's Minority Communities
$21,780.00		YWCA of Elyria, Project Reach

Komen Northeast Ohio Affiliate
Carrie Clark, 216-292-2873 extension 109
Affiliate Programs Manager