Local Organization Recognized With Support From National Program

The Avon Foundation Breast Care Fund has awarded a $65,000 one-year grant to The University of Tennessee Medical Center Cancer Institute’s Breast Health Outreach Program to increase awareness of the life-saving benefits of early detection of breast cancer. It is the eighth consecutive year that the program has received Avon Foundation funding to support its work on this important health issue and in recognition of the excellence of the program.

The Breast Health Outreach Program at UT Medical Center educates women throughout East Tennessee and refers them for low-cost or free mammograms and clinical breast exams in their own communities. The vital program also provides a free onsite didactic breast health program to educate women on the importance of early detection of breast cancer.

Since 1996, the Breast Health Outreach Program at The UT Medical Center Cancer Institute has reached more than 20,000 women with information about the importance of early detection of breast cancer and has referred a significant number of 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, there were an estimated 3,720 new cases of breast cancer detected in Tennessee in 2008 and 900 lives lost. Nationwide, there is a new diagnosis every 3 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 the Breast Health Outreach 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 continues to share our mission and support the Breast Health Outreach Program at UT Medical Center,” said Dr. John L. Bell, director of the UT Medical Center Cancer Institute. “With these funds obtained, we will be able to reach underserved women throughout East Tennessee with vital information that could save their lives.”

Since 1993, the Avon Foundation has awarded more than 1,100 grants to community-based breast health programs across the United States, including the Breast Health Outreach Program at UT Medical Center. These programs are dedicated to educating underserved women about breast cancer and linking them to early detection screening services.

The Avon Foundation and Avon Breast Cancer Crusade
The Avon Foundation, 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 $525 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 Breast Health Outreach Program at the UT Medical Center Cancer Institute as one of 143 new grant recipients nationwide in the 2008 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 breast cancer or the Breast Health Outreach Program at UT Medical Center, please call 865.305.9753. For more information about breast cancer, contact the American Cancer Society at 800.ACS.2345 or the National Cancer Institute at 800.4.CANCER.

To learn more about the Avon Foundation, call 866.505.AVON or visit www.avonfoundation.org, where you also can 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 888.540.WALK.