Komen Tyler Affiliate Awards Local Grants

March 29, 2010

The Tyler Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure has awarded grants totaling over $272,000 to local agencies to aid in the fight against breast cancer.  The grants committee was comprised of local community members who reviewed all requests.  The grants were awarded according to their applicability to the priority results of the Community Profile Needs Study conducted last summer.  The funds for the grants were raised at the 2009 Komen Tyler Race for the Cure. 

Grantees are as follows: 

Northeast Texas Public Health District Breast Health and Screening Initiative awarded $228,000 as a third party administrator to provide billing and management of the clinical funds with the following restrictions:  Fees for services and medicines will be paid to the direct service provider at a maximum of the Medicare rate.  Provisions must be made for women who are insured but cannot afford the co-payment and other special payment situations. 

Trinity Mother Frances Health System awarded $5400 for “Una Jornada de Esperanza” to provide education and breast self-exam training sessions for Hispanic women in Smith County.

Trinity Mother Frances Health System awarded $1300 for “A Hopeful Journey” to provide education and breast self-exam training sessions specifically for African American women in Smith County.

Trinity Mother Frances Health System awarded $2500 for “A Hopeful Journey” to provide breast health and breast cancer education and outreach targeted to, but not limited to women ages 45-55 of all ethnic backgrounds in Smith County.

Trinity Mother Frances Health System awarded $11,000 for “Here for the Journey” to provide breast cancer rehabilitation products to medically under-served women in Smith County.  The products include prostheses, lymphedema sleeves, wigs, special bras, stocking caps and headwear.

ETMC Cancer Institute awarded $7100 for “Pin-A-Sister” to raise breast cancer awareness and the importance of early detection among African American women in Smith County. 

The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler awarded $3950 for “Coming Back to Care” to develop a software program to identify and notify or remind women to make appointments for their mammograms.

Trinity Clinic Genetics awarded $13,000 for “Breast Cancer Risk Evaluation and Action (RE-ACT)” to provide women, and rarely men, with medical genetics evaluation and personalized recommendations for breast cancer prevention and early detection.

The 2010 Komen Tyler Race for the Cure will be held Saturday, May 8, at Bergfeld Park.  For more information visit the website at www.komentyler.org.

Since its conception in 1999, the Tyler Affiliate's grants are responsible for providing approximately 5,000 mammograms and more than $1 million in services. Grants from Komen have provided:

• Breast diagnostic services for those unable to afford them
• Retreats for breast cancer patients
• Rehabilitation products
• Forums for populations underserved and at risk
• Genetic testing and evaluation for high risk breast cancer patients

2007 Programs Funded by Susan G. Komen for the Cure Tyler Affiliate

• Northeast Texas Public Health District
• Cancer Foundation for Life
• East Texas Medical Center Breast Care Center
• Trinity Clinic Medical Genetics
• Trinity Mother Frances Health System Foundation

March 24, 2008

Tyler Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Funds Community Outreach Programs

The Tyler affiliate of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure has awarded grants totaling $225,000 to support Smith County’s breast health education and breast cancer screening programs. The Komen Tyler Affiliate’s local fundraising efforts, along with the Komen Tyler Race for the Cure®, have enabled it to fund several projects for 2008. The largest grant, $180,000, was awarded to the Northeast Texas Public Health District“ Breast Health and Screening Initiative” to pay for breast diagnostic services for women who can’t afford them. East Texas Medical Center received an $11,560 grant for their second annual Pink Ribbon Getaway. The retreat is held in October and presents topics and speakers for breast cancer survivors. Trinity Mother Frances Health System received a $13,850 grant for “A Hopeful Journey” program which provides rehabilitation products, training sessions for breast self exams and programs for the Hispanic population. Trinity Clinic Medical Genetics received a $7,146 grant to provide genetic testing and evaluation for high risk breast cancer patients while Cancer Foundation for Life received a $12,444 grant for a conditioning program for breast cancer survivors through education, exercise and treatment.

“In order to ensure our funds are making the greatest impact, the Komen Tyler Affiliate works with local medical experts and community leaders to conduct comprehensive community needs assessments,” said Clay Thompson, Komen Tyler Affiliate Grants Chairman and board member.

Up to 75 percent of funds raised by a Komen Affiliate remains in the community to fund local breast health education and breast cancer screening and treatment programs. Remaining income supports the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Award and Research Grant Program, which funds groundbreaking breast cancer research and educational and scientific programs around the world.

The Komen Foundation was established in 1982 by Nancy Brinker to honor the memory of her sister, Susan G. Komen, who died from breast cancer at the age of 36. The Komen Foundation is the world’s largest private funder of community-based breast health education and breast cancer screening and treatment programs. Together with its affiliate network, corporate partners and generous donors, the Komen Foundation has raised over a billion dollars.

The 2008 Komen Tyler Race for the Cure will be held at Bergfeld Park on May 10.

To register for the race or for more information on breast health visit www.komentyler.org