KOMEN ATLANTA GRANTS $47,477 TO ATLANTA LEGAL AID SOCIETY, INC.

KOMEN ATLANTA GRANTS $47,477 TO ATLANTA LEGAL AID SOCIETY, INC.

Affiliate grants $1.9 million total to 19 Metro Atlanta breast health organizations to enable the medically underserved to detect and survive breast cancer

ATLANTA, Ga. – The Greater Atlanta Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure today granted Atlanta Legal Aid Society, Inc. $47,477 in support of its Breast Cancer Legal Project (BCLP). Atlanta Legal Aid Society has received six grants from Komen Atlanta since 2007, totaling nearly $281,000.

The BCLP provides legal services to low-income breast cancer patients and survivors in Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton and Gwinnett counties. The program’s attorneys navigate clients through legal issues that are barriers to care and affect their ability to focus on breast cancer treatment and wellness. Legal issues may include employment rights, access to public benefits, income and housing and will preparation. BCLP was the first project in the country to provide direct legal services specifically to low-income breast cancer patients and survivors.

“Atlanta Legal Aid’s Breast Cancer Legal Project fills a breast healthcare gap in the Metro Atlanta area and aims to increase access and affordability of legal services to medically underserved populations,” said Mission Director, Eryn Marchiolo. “Komen Atlanta is excited to fund an organization working to fill a void and ensure that all women have the chance to combat breast cancer and survive this disease.”

Komen Atlanta is the largest funding organization of breast cancer support in Atlanta and strives to bridge the gap between healthcare disparities in the community. The Affiliate will begin its 2013-2014 fiscal year by granting $1.9 million to 19 community breast health programs that will target Atlanta’s medically underserved communities. Since its inception in 1991, the organization has raised more than $35 million to help enable Metro Atlanta women to detect and survive breast cancer.

ABOUT SUSAN G. KOMEN FOR THE CURE GREATER ATLANTA AFFILIATE

Komen Atlanta is the local resource for breast cancer screening, diagnostic and support services. Through events, including the Race for the Cure, and contributions, the Affiliate raises funds to enable women to detect and survive breast cancer. Seventy-five percent of all funds stay in Atlanta to provide breast health services for women who could not otherwise afford them. Twenty-five percent supports national research efforts to finding a cure. Komen Atlanta has raised more than $35 million since its inception in 1991. The Affiliate is part of the national Susan G. Komen for the Cure organization, which strives to save lives and end breast cancer forever. Komen is the largest private funder in the fight against breast cancer and has invested nearly $2 billion toward the cause.