On February 26, a group of 15 young ladies from Firebaugh High School visited the Women’s Imaging Department at St. Francis Medical Center. The reason for their visit was simple: to present a check for over $500 to the hospital. The young ladies are members of Firebaugh High School’s Button Club that sold buttons on campus to raise awareness for breast cancer.
At the check presentation, the young leaders were pleased to hear their contributions would assist in providing at least four local, uninsured women mammography services at the state-of-the-art Women’s Imaging Center. St. Francis Medical Center was one of the first to introduce 3D mammography technology in Los Angeles County.
Women’s Imaging Director Najib Elsouki took the young philanthropists on a tour and explained how 3D digital breast tomosynthesis imaging works. “Through multiple images, we are able to construct a 3D image of the breast. In the past, abnormalities in the breast could be overlooked, but now we are able to more accurately diagnose breast cancer and save lives through early detection.”
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“Firebaugh is very proud to save lives,” said Button Club President Fernanda Linares. “The Button Club is now really motivated to continue our work. It was rewarding having the tour and learning the importance of staying healthy in order to live an amazing life. We will definitely be back at St. Francis to save more lives.”
“Through the process of selling buttons on campus, these student leaders learned the importance of giving back to their community,” said Mary Eileen Drees, vice president of Development and CEO of the St. Francis Medical Center Foundation. “It is through generous support from leaders like these young women that Southeast Los Angeles women will continue to have access to the most advanced screenings available and the highest quality care.”
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About St. Francis Medical Center Foundation
The St. Francis Medical Center Foundation was founded in 1983 as a nonprofit corporation to meet the philanthropic needs of St. Francis Medical Center, a member hospital of the Daughters of Charity Health System. The purpose of the Foundation is to encourage, receive, administer and disperse donated funds. The charitable donations and bequests help to underwrite the cost for new equipment, the modernization and expansion of St. Francis’ facilities, and high quality health care services and community outreach programs.