News Susan G. Komen For The Cure - Phoenix Posted: 5/15/2007   CONTACT: Vanessa Nelson Hill 602-249-5667 (bna5060@aol.com) Tina Brown 480-695-2615 (tinabrown876@yahoo.com) FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: APRIL 11, 2007 PHOENIX AFFILIATE OF SUSAN G. KOMEN FOR THE CURE AWARDS $40,700 TO BLACK NURSES ASSOCIATION OF GREATER PHOENIX AND SISTAS OF AZ PHOENIX (April 11, 2007) – The Phoenix Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, one of more than 100 Affiliates nationwide dedicated to ending breast cancer forever, has announced the award of a community grant of $40,700 to the Black Nurses Association of Greater Phoenix(BNAGP) and Sistas of AZ (SOA) for its “Pray for a Cure” Breast Health program. This grant will be used to provide educational information and activities promoting the importance of breast health to minority women and men in Coconino, Gila, Maricopa and Yavapi counties. This grant is part of $1,650,000 awarded by the Komen Phoenix Affiliate for breast health education and breast cancer screening and treatment programs in northern and central Arizona, in addition to $478,250 sent to its national office for research, bringing the total of its 2007/2008 grants to more than $2.1 million. This year’s record amount takes the total to over $11 million granted by the Affiliate since its inception in 1993. The year-round fundraising efforts of the Komen Phoenix Affiliate, such as the Komen Phoenix Race for the Cure® and the Circle of Hope® annual donor program, have enabled it to provide these grants this year. Vanessa Nelson Hill (BNAGP) states “We will partner with Sistas of AZ and Susan G. Komen for the Cure Phoenix to deliver a yearlong breast health campaign, Pray for a Cure targeting underserved and uninsured minority populations in Arizona.” Tina Brown (SAZ) notes “Pray for a Cure” will stress the importance of education and prescreening exams to thereby reduce the number of late stage diagnosis of breast cancer and improve the survival rate of Arizona’s high risk community.” The partnership is a focused effort to reduce the number of minority women dying from late diagnosis of breast cancer. “Pray for a Cure” will encourage Arizona’s minority communities to annually include breast-screening exams in wellness exams and provide program participants with easy-to-read educational resources from Komen’s Marketplace outlining breast health facts. “To ensure our funds are making the greatest impact, the Komen Phoenix Affiliate works with local medical experts and community leaders to conduct comprehensive community needs assessments,” said Charlie Thompson, board member and director of the grants committee of the Affiliate. “Last year, our community profile identified the unmet breast-health needs within our service area. This year’s grants will help fill the gaps, deliver the life-saving message of early detection, and continue to provide assistance to medically underserved breast cancer patients and their families.” Up to 75 percent of net income from the Komen Phoenix Affiliate funds community-based breast cancer programs. Remaining net income (a minimum of 25 percent) supports the national Komen Award and Research Grant Program, which funds groundbreaking breast cancer research, meritorious awards, and educational and scientific programs around the world. Komen for the Cure was established in 1982 by Nancy Brinker to honor the memory of her sister, Susan G. Komen, who died from breast cancer at the age of 36. Thanks to more than 100,000 survivors and activists dedicated to the fight against breast cancer, the Komen organization, with its Affiliate Network, is the nation’s largest private funder for breast cancer research and community outreach programs. For more information about Susan G. Komen for the Cure or its Phoenix Affiliate, call 602-544-CURE (2873) or visit www.KomenPhoenix.org. For more information contact: Vanessa Hill Nelson, Executive Director, BNAGP (602) 249-5667 or visit: www.gpbna.org or Tina Brown, President, SOA (480) 695-2615 or visit: www.sistasofaz.org Download the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Press Release