Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Currently Accepting Applications for Disaster-Relief Grants; More Than $1 Million Already Granted
Up to $2 Million Earmarked for Rebuilding Facilities in Areas Affected by Hurricanes and Supporting Organizations Providing Services to Displaced Breast Cancer Patients
February 27, 2006 - Following Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation designated up to $2 million to support efforts to rebuild non-profit institutions and providers of breast health and breast cancer care in affected areas, and to help organizations maintain the continuum of patient services in communities responding to the needs of displaced populations.
To date, the Foundation has approved more than $700,000 in patient services grants and more than $500,000 in rebuilding grants, and continues to encourage organizations meeting criteria to submit grant applications. Information and applications for Komen Foundation Disaster-Relief Grants can be found at www.komen.org/disaster.
Types of Grants
Komen Foundation Rebuilding Grants
There are two types of relief grants for which organizations are encouraged to apply - rebuilding grants and patient services grants. Komen Foundation Rebuilding Grants are intended for non-profit institutions and providers of breast cancer care in areas affected by the hurricanes for rebuilding efforts, including but not limited to: rebuilding facilities, replacing equipment, hiring staff, replacing/buying supplies, retrieving records, locating patients and reassigning providers. Requests of up to $50,000 will be considered.
Komen Foundation Patient Services Grants
Komen Foundation Patient Services Grants are intended to enable non-profit institutions and providers of breast cancer care in communities responding to displaced populations to maintain breast cancer services. Funding is designed to assist breast cancer care providers with patient treatment needs, including pharmaceutical and medical supplies; transportation of patients to and from treatment; child care for patients undergoing treatment and patient navigation services. Requests of up to $30,000 will be considered.
Current Disaster-Relief Grant recipients are using funds in a variety of ways, including: Angel Flight Southeast is flying displaced breast cancer patientsin Florida twice a week for treatment in Texas; the Louisiana Cancer Foundation is assisting evacuees staying in several Northeast Louisiana parishes with medication, transportation to treatment, post-treatment suppliesand COBRA insurance payments due to loss of joband benefits; Boat People SOS, Inc. is meeting the needs of Vietnamese victims of Hurricane Katrina.
Patient Resources
The Komen Foundation is unable to provide funds directly to individuals affected by the hurricanes because funding is limited to organizations. However, the Komen Foundation is collaborating with organizations like CancerCare and the Patient Advocate Foundation to ensure patients' needs are being met. Individuals with breast health needs who were affected by the hurricanes can contact the Komen Foundation's National Toll-Free Breast Care Helpline 1.800 I'M AWARE® (1.800.462.9273). In addition, information on a wide variety of health and disaster-relief resources is available through the Komen Foundation's Web site at www.komen.org/disaster.
Filling Critical Gaps
"Komen Foundation Disaster-Relief Grants are filling critical gaps in breast health care in communities across the Gulf Coast as well as in areas still working to assist hurricane evacuees," said Rebecca Garcia, Ph.D., Komen Foundation vice president of health sciences. "As a direct result of Komen grants, organizations such as CancerCare and the Patient Advocate Foundation are improving access to and quality of breast health services for patients in need. However, there is still an urgent need in many affected areas, and we encourage organizations and providers to review our criteria and apply for relief grants as soon as possible."
More than 100 Komen Foundation Affiliates serving more than 15,000 communities are working to notify current and past grantees as well as other applicable area institutions about the availability of these critical funds.
Komen Foundation Disaster-Relief Grant applications and criteria can be found at www.komen.org/disaster or by calling (972) 855-1616. Only non-profit institutions and providers addressing breast health needs of those affected by Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma are eligible for grant assistance.
For questions about breast health or breast cancer, visit the Komen Foundation's Web site at www.komen.org or call the Komen Foundation's National Toll-Free Breast Care Helpline at 1.800 I'M AWARE® (1.800.462.9273).
