Local programs get over $5 million
Susan G. Komen Texarkana Race for the Cure has raised more than $5 million in support of local programs focused on breast cancer diagnosis and screening, breast health education and treatment support projects.
About 75 percent of the funds raised by the Texarkana affiliate stays in the area to support local programs.
To qualify for funding from Komen, agencies have to meet certain criteria.
“We have specific guidelines that one must follow to apply for grant funds,” said Amber Lawrence, Texarkana Affiliate executive director. “They must be a nonprofit and be servicing individuals in the breast health education field or for diagnostics. They must also be providing services in our six-county service area.”
An independent grant committee determines where local funds go.
“They are not affiliated with our board or organization,” Lawrence said.
The goal is for funds to affect women in a positive way by increasing access to needed breast health services.
“Our goal is for any uninsured or underinsured individual to receive breast care that they need,” Lawrence said. “We hope any woman who is in need of a mammogram will receive help through our programs.”
The goal for this year’s Race for the
Cure is $250,000.
Agencies receiving grant funds from the 2015 event include:
$7,500 to Little River Memorial
Hospital;
$50,000 to the Wadley Auxiliary; $500 to Girl Scouts-Diamonds of Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas;
$4,500 to Hospice of Texarkana; $132,500 to CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System; and
$10,000 to Genesis PrimeCare.
In 2011 Susan G. Komen Texarkana completed a community profile that showed the need for support services for the underserved populations. From the profile, the Texarkana Affiliate identified the following focus areas: education and awareness access to care coordination of resources—because without it, work to reduce breast care disparities is fragmented.