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May 3, 2019 – Only six months after launching the Susan G. Komen Florida statewide affiliate, the newly expanded organization has announced a second round of grant funding to deliver breast health services to the state’s most impoverished communities.  Grant funding will help women living 200% or more below the poverty level get the screenings and diagnostic testing that could save their lives.  Funding will also provide financial assistance to those currently in treatment.
 
Komen Florida announced its first round of grant funding in January 2019 to reach 500 women statewide.  The funding announced today will greatly expand its impact by investing an additional $354,000 to provide 2,842 breast health services to those most in need in north, south and southwest Florida and provide treatment assistance.  Since launching in November 2018, Komen Florida has invested $579,000 in total grant funding for state and regional grants, research and treatment assistance.
Yale researchers in 2018 confirmed that there are significant county-level disparities in cancer deaths for high-income communities vs. low-income.  Komen Florida is focused on reducing breast cancer deaths and breast health disparities by funding ten organizations that provide health care services to populations living in poverty and those who are underinsured or uninsured and face significant barriers to care.
 
North Florida
Florida Department of Health, Baker County.  Funding will provide education, screenings and mammograms.
Southwest Florida
Family Health Centers of Southwest Florida.  Grant support provides clinical breast exams, screening mammograms advanced diagnostic mammograms, ultrasounds, biopsies and MRIs.
Partners for Breast Cancer Care, Inc.  Funding to reach underserved populations in Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Hendry and Glades Counties and increase focus on Hispanic and Black American women to provide breast health services and screening mammograms.
 
South Florida
Florida Department of Health, Broward County.  Support will increase access to the continuum of care for breast health for women who are of African or Ashkenazi Jewish descent, and Hispanic/Latinas, and ensure women with abnormal screening results have access to necessary breast diagnostic procedures, care coordination, patient navigation and referral to treatment.  
Bethesda Women’s Health Center, Palm Beach County.  Support for the "Treasure Your CHEST" program, providing access, education and support for clinical breast exams, digital mammography, breast ultrasound, breast MRI, and breast biopsies. Navigation services, risk assessment and genetic testing/counseling are also offered.
Caridad Center, Palm Beach County. Provides funding for education to improve knowledge of risk factors and navigation services and screening mammograms. 
Genesis Community Health, Palm Beach County.  Funding supports senior, Hispanic and women of African descent by providing clinical breast exams, nurse navigation/care coordination and screening testing.
Lakeside Medical Centerin the Glades Region of Palm Beach County. Funding provides ultrasounds, screening and diagnostic mammograms and transportation services for women in this rural community.
Martin Memorial Health Systems, Martin County.  Funding supports screening, diagnostic services, navigation, transportation and treatment with a priority on seniors, women of African descent, and Hispanic/Latinas who are at greater risk of late stage diagnosis. 
Florida Community Health Centers, Inc., St. Lucie County.  Funding for screening mammograms.
 
Additional Susan G. Komen funding offers financial assistance to women across the state who are currently in treatment through Komen’s new Treatment Assistance Program.  Many women burdened by the expenses of cancer treatment will forego doctors’ appointments, avoid filling prescriptions or skip medication doses to save on the cost of care.  The program supports women (or men) with a cancer diagnosis who are active in treatment and have incomes at or below 250% of the Federal Poverty Limit.  The funding provides for medications, psychosocial support, child/elder care, transportation to appointments and other items or services to ensure patients have the means to follow their care plans. 
 
“Over 2,700 Florida women die from breast cancer every year,” said Kate Watt, Komen Florida executive director.  “The organizations we have chosen to fund will help more women and men survive by reaching our state’s most vulnerable populations through education, early detection and access to treatment that saves lives.”
 
About Susan G. Komen Florida 
Susan G. Komen is the world’s largest breast cancer organization, funding more breast cancer research than any other nonprofit while providing real-time help to those facing the disease. Komen was founded by Nancy G. Brinker, who promised her sister, Susan G. Komen, that she would end the disease that claimed Suzy’s life. Komen Florida is working to better the lives of those facing breast cancer in local communities across its service area of southwest, central, north, south and the Florida Suncoast regions. Komen Florida has invested nearly $57 million in community breast health programs and has helped contribute to the more than $988 million invested globally in research.  For more information, call 561-514-3020 or visit www.komenflorida.org.