Avon Breast Health Outreach Program Awards Grant for Breast Cancer Awareness Program to Christiana Care

Local Organization Recognized With Support from National Program

The Avon Breast Health Outreach Program has awarded a $55,000 one-year grant to Christiana Care Health System to increase awareness of the life-saving benefits of early detection of breast cancer. It is the eleventh year that the program has received funding from the Avon Foundation for Women to support its work on this important health issue and in recognition of the program’s excellence.

Helping Hands for Breast Health at Christiana Care’s Helen F. Graham Cancer Center will educate New Castle County area women and refer them to low-cost or free mammograms and clinical breast exams in their own communities, and enroll them into the annual reminder system and have the Avon outreach coordinator assist them to eliminate barriers that may interfere with them completing their breast screening. The coordinator will assist with finding transportation or financial resources through state and local funds to pay for the services. The vital program will also collaborate with the local Avon representatives through the Pink Tool Kit project. The Avon Breast Screening Coordinator (AOC), Kristin Barnes has worked with local District Manager- Deb Wilson to educate local reps about breast health and encourage them to provide information to their clients.

Since January 2002, the Helping Hands for Breast Health Program at Christiana Care has reached more than 20,000 women with information about the importance of early detection of breast cancer and has referred more than 7,700 women for mammograms and clinical breast exams.

Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women in the United States, and the leading single cause of death overall in women between the ages of 40 and 55. According to the American Cancer Society, 740 new cases of breast cancer will be detected in {Delaware} this year and 120 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 Helping Hands 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 support our program again this year. With these funds we will be able to continue our partnerships with the Avon representatives, assist women through the work of our screening navigator and staff and continue our reminder system. All of these components of the program make a difference to change women’s behavior and incorporate breast health in their lives.” says Nora C. Katurakes, Manager of the Community Health Outreach Program for Christiana Care.

“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 today is the world’s largest corporate-affiliated philanthropy focused on issues that matter most to women. The Avon Breast Cancer Crusade, which observes its 20th anniversary in 2012, has placed Avon at the forefront of the fight against breast cancer; today, Avon is the leading corporate supporter of the cause globally. In the 20 years since the Crusade’s launch, Avon breast cancer programs in 58 countries have donated more than $740 million for research and advancing access to care, regardless of a person’s ability to pay. Avon raises funds for the Crusade through the sale of Avon “Pink Ribbon” products, and through events and walks, such as the U.S. Avon Walk for Breast Cancer series, which is the Foundation’s largest fund-raising source.

The Avon Breast Health Outreach Program

The Avon Breast Health Outreach Program 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 Helping Hands for Breast Health at Christiana Care as one of 120 new grant recipients nationwide in the 2012 cycle of Avon Breast Health Outreach Program 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 Helping Hand at Christiana Care please call Nora Katurakes at 302-623-4628. 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 access free printable Breast Health Resource Guides 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.