Download 1 - AVON 39 The Walk to End Breast Cancer

Avon Foundation Support in Southern California through 2009
Advancing Access to Care and Finding A Cure
New awards will be announced at the Avon Walk Santa Barbara closing ceremony
Over $26 million has been awarded by the Avon Foundation to organizations and institutions in Southern
California, including:
Avon Foundation Center of Excellence
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UCLA-Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center has been awarded more than $3.4 million since
2005 and was recently named an Avon Foundation Center of Excellence. Funds support the Avon
Cares for Life program, a partnership with Olive View Medical Center that supports cutting-edge breast
cancer research, trains new physicians to become experts in mammography and breast imaging, and
provides culturally-sensitive, state-of-the-art breast care for underserved women. Fellowships since
2001 have trained physicians in breast imaging at the Iris Cantor Breast Imaging Center at UCLA to
support screening and diagnostics through additional investments of nearly $925,000.
Research
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Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope received a grant of $300,000 to launch the
Love/Avon Army of Women-Hope Cohort study that will establish a new, powerful cohort for
investigation of questions related to breast cancer etiology, cause and survival.
University of Southern California received a grant of $300,000 to evaluate whether 2 common fertility
drugs can mimic early pregnancy and alter the gene and protein expression profiles of breast tissue in
parous vs. nulliparous women.
At the John Wayne Cancer Center (JWCI), Avon Foundation funding of $2.52 million since 2003
supports collaboration between JWCI and the Center for Healthy Aging that focuses on outreach,
education, screening and breast cancer treatment services for women over the age of 65. In addition,
funds support cutting edge research into the role of a particular protein in breast cancer progression.
Dr. Susan Love’s Research Foundation has received more than $3.6 million since 2005 to support
research developing a novel device that will monitor breast fluid for malignant changes; studies to
better understand the natural anatomy and physiology of the human breast; and, research to
understand the natural ways pregnancy seems to change a woman’s risk of breast cancer, with the
goal of using this knowledge to develop ways to prevent breast cancer in all women. In 2008, the Avon
Foundation partnered with the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation to form the Love/Avon Army of
Women, an online resource that enables women to directly impact breast cancer prevention research
by partnering with research scientists.
The Avon Foundation has also provided over $1.5 million to eight clinical trials and clinical research
projects in California through our “Progress for Patients” partnership with the National Cancer
Institute. These research projects focus on:
o Novel biomarkers (distinctive biological indicators) for examining a persons risk of developing
breast cancer, monitoring disease progression, and predicting response to therapy.
o Computer aided diagnosis applied to breast MRI.
o A clinical trial of combination therapy using trastuzumab and erlotinib in HER2+ metastatic breast
cancer.
o A clinical study of grape seed extract, a natural aromatase inhibitor.
o A phase II clinical trial using novel drug combinations in patients with “triple negative” breast cancer
“Safety Net” Care
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Over $4 million in funds since 2002 has been distributed to help un-insured and underinsured, lower
income, and minority women receive mammography screening, diagnostics and treatment for breast
cancer at Harbor-UCLA, LAC-USC and Olive View Medical Center.
Since 2006, the Council of Community Clinics in San Diego has received $900,000 to support a
patient coordinator network among the six organizations and eighteen community clinics that comprise
the Council.
Northridge Hospital in West San Fernando Valley received grants of $480,000 to establish and
support a highly structured volunteer patient navigator program.
Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center near San Diego received $250,000 to support a patient navigator
program that will work to improve care, specifically among the underserved, uninsured women served
at the Center.
Antelope Valley Community Clinic (formerly Visiting Nurse Community Services) received $500,000
to support a patient navigator community outreach program that aims to increase breast health
screening and reduce delays in accessing diagnostics and treatment.
Clinica Oscar A. Romero in Los Angeles received $180,000 to support targeted outreach to Latina
populations and provide navigation to diagnostics designed to increase services and reduce delays in
care.
Support Services
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Since 2000, the AVONCares program at CancerCare has provided direct financial assistance for
transportation, child care, or elder care to 4,243 lower income, medically underserved women in
California to resolve logistical barriers to breast cancer screening or treatment. These gifts totaled
$1,171,241, or about $276 each. Nationwide, support has been provided in 85% of all U.S. counties.
Project Angel Food has been awarded $325,000 to provide nutrition education and meal deliver to
serve 75 unique breast cancer client families over the next year. Project Angel Food is one of six
unique nutrition programs for breast cancer patients supported by the Avon Foundation in the US,
which together form a virtual network of nutrition services among the underserved population.
Outreach and Education – Avon Foundation funding supports community-based outreach and
education programs nationwide, which in 2009 linked over 100,000 women to mammography and
clinical breast exam and educated 1.5 million about breast cancer. Organization supported in the
Southern California include:
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Asian Pacific Health Care Venture, Inc.
Center For Healthy Aging/Wise & Healthy Aging
Indian Health Council
Nhan Hoa Comprehensive Health Care Clinic
Orange County Korean American Health Information and Education Center
St. Vincent Medical Center
Vista Community Clinic
YWCA of Glendale
YWCA of North Orange County
The Avon Foundation was founded in 1955 to improve the lives of women, and today is focused on the
issues of breast cancer and domestic violence. For information on funded programs and research
throughout the US, grant guidelines, breast cancer information and resources, and much more, visit
www.avonfoundation.org.
Program inquiries:
Media inquiries:
Marc Hurlbert - 212-282-5560 – [email protected]
Karyn Margolis – 212-282-5666 - [email protected]