Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Provides Up to $1 Million for Breast Cancer Needs in Wake of Hurricanes Katrina, Rita
Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Provides up to $1 Million for Breast Cancer Needs in Wake of Hurricanes Katrina, Rita
Now Accepting Applications for Funds Earmarked for Rebuilding Facilities in Affected Areas; Supporting Organizations Providing Services to Displaced Breast Cancer Patients
DALLAS - September 26, 2005 - The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation has designated up to $1 million to support efforts to rebuild non-profit institutions and providers of breast health and breast cancer care in areas affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and to help organizations maintain the continuum of patient services in communities responding to the needs of displaced populations. As these funds are distributed, the Komen Foundation will continue to evaluate needs and available resources. 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.
The Komen Foundation is unable to provide funds directly to individuals affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita because funding is limited to organizations. However, the Komen Foundation is collaborating with organizations like CancerCare to ensure patients' needs are being met. Individuals with breast health needs who were affected by the hurricane 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.
"All of us at the Komen Foundation are saddened by the devastation left in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Now more than ever, we realize the pressing breast cancer needs - immediate and long term - of the many thousands already facing the disease, the thousands more who will be diagnosed this year and those who provide breast cancer care," said Rebecca Garcia, Ph.D., Komen Foundation vice president of health sciences. "Komen Foundation Disaster-Relief Grants are designed to fill critical gaps in breast health care between patients and providers resulting from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Because there is an urgent need, we encourage organizations and providers to review our criteria and apply 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 Grants forms and criteria can be found at www.komen.org/disaster or by calling Chelsea Combs, Komen Foundation grants administrator, at (972) 855-1616. Only non-profit institutions and providers addressing breast health needs of those affected by Hurricane Katrina are eligible for grant assistance.
For more information about breast health or breast cancer, visit the Foundation's Web site at www.komen.org or call the Foundation's National Toll Free Breast Care Helpline at 1.800 I'M AWARE® (1.800.462.9273).
