Avon Breast Health Outreach Program Awards YWCA RI $60,000 Grant

The Avon Breast Health Outreach Program has awarded a $60,000 grant to YWCA Rhode Island to increase awareness of the life-saving benefits of early detection of breast cancer.

This is the nineteenth year the program has received funding from the Avon Foundation for Women to support its work on this important health issue, and in recognition of the program’s excellence.

The breast health program ENCOREplus at YWCA Rhode Island will educate Rhode Island women and refer them to low-cost or free mammograms and clinical breast exams in their own communities. The vital program will also enable YWCA Rhode Island to provide breast and cervical cancer community health outreach, education, assistance in accessing and navigating the treatment services and offer support during diagnosis and treatment.

Since July 1995, the ENCOREplus at YWCA Rhode Island has reached more than 20,000 women with information about the importance of early detection of breast cancer and has referred almost 1,200 women for mammograms and clinical breast exams in 2012.

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, 132
new cases of breast cancer will be detected in Rhode Island this year and 130 lives will be lost.  Nationwide, there is a new diagnosis every three minutes and a death from breast cancer every 14 minutes.

While advances have been made in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, early detection still affords the best opportunity for successful treatment.  Programs such as ENCOREplus 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 for Women shares our mission and has chosen to support our program. With these funds, we will be able to provide health outreach, education and services to underserved populations in our community,” said Deborah L. Perry, president/chief executive officer for YWCA Rhode Island.

Since 1993, the Avon Foundation has awarded 1,550 grants to community-based breast health programs across the United States, including ENCOREplus at YWCA Rhode Island.  These programs are dedicated to educating underserved women about breast cancer and linking them to early detection screening services.