KOMEN ATLANTA GRANTS $142,500 TO THE EAST METRO HEALTH DISTRICT

KOMEN ATLANTA GRANTS $142,500 TO THE EAST METRO HEALTH DISTRICT

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 the East Metro Health District $142,500 in support of its Breast Cancer Screening Project. The organization has received four grants from Komen Atlanta since 2009, totaling $592,500.

The East Metro Health District’s Breast Cancer Screening Project serves underinsured and uninsured women of various ethnicities, with multiple barriers to breast health care in Gwinnett, Newton and Rockdale counties. Bilingual staff members provide breast cancer education, clinical breast exams, mammogram referrals and diagnostic screenings. In addition, the program offers follow-up services and treatment referrals to women diagnosed with the disease.

“The East Metro Health District’s Breast Cancer Screening Project fills a breast healthcare disparity in the Metro Atlanta area by aiming to eliminate women’s socioeconomic barriers to receiving breast health care,” said Eryn Marchiolo, Mission Director. “Komen Atlanta is pleased to fund an organization dedicated to providing necessary resources to ensure that all women have the chance to combat 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.