Download 1 - AVON 39 The Walk to End Breast Cancer

Support for the New York Area through 2009
Advancing Access to Care and Finding A Cure
The Avon Foundation for Women has raised and awarded more than $585 million for the breast cancer cause
since 1992. Over $45 million has been awarded by the Avon Foundation to organizations and institutions in
Connecticut, New Jersey and New York, including:
Research
 The Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center at New York Presbyterian Hospital and Columbia
University Medical Center have received $19.8 million from the Avon Foundation for breast cancer
research and access to care for underserved patients since 2000. Research funds have supported over 50
pilot projects and the training of dozens of new scientists in breast cancer research and clinical care. Avon
Foundation funds have supported pioneering genetic studies into the causes of breast cancer, population
research studies to understand differences in breast health care, and potential environmental impact on
breast cancer.
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The Avon Foundation has also provided nearly $2 million to support eight clinical research projects in the
region through our “Progress for Patients” partnership with the National Cancer Institute. These clinical
projects focus on promising directions in the search for breast cancer causes, prevention and cure,
including:
o Characterization of novel biomarkers (distinctive biological indicators) to aid in detecting breast
cancer and monitoring a patient’s response to different therapies
o A Phase 1 clinical trial of a novel vaccine in patients with advanced breast cancer
o Validating new targets in breast cancer tumors to develop new therapies
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Niagara University received a grant of $150,000 to identify metabolic biomarkers of metastatic or even
early breast cancer in urine.
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Since 2004, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, one of four Breast Cancer and the Environment Research
Centers (BCERC’s), has received funds through a partnership with the NCI and the National Institute of
Environmental Health Sciences.
“Safety Net” Care
 The Avon Foundation also supports “safety net” care through Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center
at New York Presbyterian Hospital and Columbia University Medical Center. Avon Foundation funds
access-to-care and patient navigation services at NYPH and supports screening services in the Avon
Foundation Breast Imaging Center located in the Herbert Irving Research Building.
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The Avon Foundation supports access to “safety net” care for uninsured, underserved populations through
grants totaling more than $18.4 million since 2004, which support the purchase of modern breast care
equipment, bi-lingual and culturally sensitive patient navigation staff at institutions including:
o Bellevue Hospital Center
o Lutheran Family Health Center Network
o Bellevue-NY University Collaborative
o Metropolitan Hospital Center
o Brookdale Hospital Medical Center
o Newark (NJ) Beth Israel Medical Center
o Community Hospital at Dobb’s Ferry
o Northern Westchester Hospital Center
o Harlem Hospital
o Queens Hospital Center
o Jacobi Medical Center
o Saint John’s Riverside Hospital
o Kings County Hospital
o University of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ
o Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center
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 so that lower income, medically underserved women do not face
logistical barriers to breast cancer screening or treatment. Nationwide, support has been provided in
85% of all US counties.
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In New York, New Jersey and Connecticut: 3,073 women to date have received a total of
$1,079,193, or about $351 each.
God’s Love We Deliver was awarded $756,000 since 2005, to develop nutrition education and deliver
meals to low-income homebound people in New York suffering from breast cancer and their families.
God’s Love 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. Other programs are in Boston, Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington, DC.
Outreach and Education
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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 greater New York region include:
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Adelphi University (NY)
American-Italian Cancer Foundation (NY)
Camden County Cancer Screening Project – Cooper Health System (NJ)
CancerCare of New Jersey (NJ)
Charles B. Wang Community Health Center (NY)
Chenango Health Network (NY)
Community Medical Center Foundation (NJ)
Flushing Hospital Medical Center (NY)
Health Research Inc./ Roswell Park Cancer Institute (NY)
Hartford Hospital (CT)
Norma P. Pfriem Breast Care Center (CT)
Outreach for Breast Health Foundation (NY)
St. Michael’s Medical Center (NJ)
William F. Ryan Community Health Center (NY)
Witness Project of Connecticut, Inc. (CT)
YWCA of Binghamton/Boone County (NY)
YWCA of Brooklyn (NY)
YWCA of Schenectady (NY)
The Avon Foundation for Women 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:
Marc Hurlbert - 212-282-5560 – [email protected]
Media inquiries:
Karyn Margolis – 212-282-5666 – [email protected]