Current Grant Recipients

The GREATER ROANOKE VALLEY AFFILIATE

OF SUSAN G. KOMEN FOR THE CURE® 

AWARDED $170,000 IN GRANTS TO REGIONAL AGENCIES in 2009

 
Organization’s Community-Based Grants Dedicated to Filling
Unmet Breast Health, Breast Cancer Needs

In April 2009, seven regional health care agencies were awarded grants from the Komen Greater Roanoke Valley Affiliate to reduce barriers, increase access and improve outcomes through early detection in screening mammography, education on breast health and self exam, and access to clinical breast exams, diagnostic testing, and case management services.

The grants are serving women across the Greater Roanoke Valley Affiliate region that are identified as uninsured or underinsured for breast screening services. The area agencies designated to receive Komen grants include:

Project Access of the Roanoke Valley (Roanoke),
Virginia Department of Health
     Mount Rogers Health District (Wytheville)
Craig County Health Center (New Castle)
Planned Parenthood Health Systems (Roanoke and Blacksburg Centers)
Caring Hearts Free Clinic of Patrick County (Stuart)
Alleghany Highlands Free Clinic (Low Moor)
Rockbridge Area Free Clinic (Lexington).

In addition, Carilion Clinic Breast Care Program (Roanoke and all counties) continues to provide services under an extended grant that was awarded in April 2008.

Each agency is identifying women who would otherwise go without access to screening mammography and clinical exams, diagnostic studies, and education for breast health.Several of the grants fund a mobile mammography service that travels to remote areas to provide on-site screening services.

During the first 6 months of these projects, a total of over 370 women have received screening mammograms and/or clinical breast exams, almost 900 individuals have received breast health education services, and over 4,000 people have received information during health fairs and other community-based events! A total of $85,000 has been distributed among the grantees to provide these services for the first six months.

The awards were made specifically to address medically uninsured and/or under-served women in the counties of Patrick, Craig, Alleghany, Roanoke, Rockbridge, Bland, Carroll, Grayson, Wythe and the cities of Galax, Roanoke and Blacksburg. This represents a broad base of the Komen service area and is excellent demonstration of the Affiliate’s aim to reach women throughout Southwest Virginia.

Komen and its Affiliates are known globally for their dedication to filling existing gaps in breast health and breast cancer needs. To make sure they are addressing needs that no one else is meeting in their own service areas, Komen Affiliates work with local medical experts and community leaders to conduct comprehensive community needs assessments. These community profiles are then used to establish local grant application and review processes consistent with Komen's promise to save lives and end breast cancer forever.

Komen Greater Roanoke Valley Affiliate President Bob Williams, MD, cites the community needs profile researched by the area Affiliate, which points to the gap for screening mammography services. According to the Virginia Department of Health, only three quarters of women surveyed reported having mammograms in the last two years. Local statistics show the following in terms of screening mammography: “Of the 210,385 women age forty and over in our service area, it is estimated that only 61.6 percent had their mammograms during the prior 12 months. Thirty – eight percent of women in our Affiliate’s service area have not had their annual mammograms, which means that 80,787 women did not have their annual mammograms in our service area,” Williams says. “These grant awards reach the heart of our mission within the Affiliate – to avail women of this potentially life-saving screening test.”

These projects have been selected by our independent Grant Review Panel as those that will have the greatest impact in serving uninsured or underinsured women in our service area. Please note that Susan G. Komen for the Cure is not a direct service provider.