LAFAYETTE -- The Avon Foundation Breast Care Fund has awarded a $40,000 one-year grant to the YWCA Women’s Cancer Program to increase awareness of the life-saving benefits of early detection of breast cancer and to assist low-income, underserved and minority women in receiving access to free clinical breast exams and mammograms. 

It is the tenth 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 excellence of the program. 

The YWCA Women’s Cancer Program will educate women in Tippecanoe and 22 other Indiana counties and refer them for free mammograms and clinical breast exams in their own communities. 

The vital program will also provide translation services for women in Tippecanoe County, navigation services for women diagnosed with breast cancer and transportation if needed.  If a woman has been screened through the program and is diagnosed with breast cancer, she may be eligible for treatment money through the program.

Since 1999 the Women’s Cancer Program at the YWCA Greater Lafayette has reached more than 850,000 women with information about the importance of early detection of breast cancer and has referred almost 17,000 women for mammograms and clinical breast exams.

Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women in the U.S., and the leading single cause of death overall in women between the ages of 40 and 55.  According to the American Cancer Society, 3560 new cases of breast cancer will be detected in Indiana this year and 860 lives will be lost. 

Nationwide, there is a new diagnosis every three minutes and a death from breast cancer every fourteen 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 the YWCA Women’s Cancer Program 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.  With these funds we will be able to assist over 2,000 women with breast health screenings and provide breast health information to thousands of women,” says Ruth Breyley, director of the Women’s Cancer Program at the YWCA Greater Lafayette.

Since 1993, the Avon Foundation has awarded more than 1,300 grants to community-based breast health programs across the United States, including the Women’s Cancer Program at the YWCA Greater Lafayette.  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 their families. Now past the half century milestone, the Foundation brings this mission to life through the Speak Out Against Domestic Violence program and the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade, which raises funds and awareness to advance access to care and finding a cure for breast cancer, with a focus on the medically underserved. Since 1992 the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade has raised and awarded more than $640 million worldwide for medical research; access to care; support services; screening and diagnostics; and education and awareness. The largest fundraising program in the U.S. is the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer series.

The Avon Foundation Breast Care Fund

The Avon Foundation Breast Care Fund 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 the Women’s Cancer Program at the YWCA Greater Lafayette as one of 125 new grant recipients nationwide in the 2010 cycle of Avon Foundation Breast Care Fund 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 the Women’s Cancer Program at the YWCA Greater Lafayette, please call Ruth Breyley at 765-742-4375 or 1-800-770-9004.  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 also access the free printable Breast Health Resource Guide 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.