American Cancer Society Announces Community Partnership Grants

The American Cancer Society recently awarded 20 grants to churches, organizations and breast cancer support groups in the Houston community. The Houston Metro Market granted nearly $70,000 with funds from the success of their "Making Strides Against Breast Cancer" event held last October.

"The Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Community Partnership Grants serve as a way to continue our efforts to increase awareness of breast health and breast cancer, and to reach our goals of improving the quality of life for those diagnosed with breast cancer," said Dr. Brenda McNeese, public health nurse and coordinator for Community Home Health Care-Extended Care at the Houston VA Medical Center, who served as co-chair of for the luncheon in which the recipients received funding. "Ultimately, we want to reduce the number of women dying from breast cancer," she said.

"More than 2,400 individuals participated in our first Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event and now we're able to grant a portion of the dollars raised back to our community," said Gayle Harper, a social worker with The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, co-chair with Dr. McNeese. "These grantees are educating at-risk populations, helping those with breast cancer live with the disease, and raising awareness in their congregations and neighborhoods on the importance of mammography and breast self-exam," said Harper.

Awardees include: Advocates for Community Wellness, The Alliance for Multicultural Community Services, Cancer Counseling Inc., Center of Research on Minority Health at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Chinese Community Center, Harris County Hospital District, Hispanic Health Coalition, Holy Family Clinic at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, Human Services and Consumer Sciences, Montrose Counseling Center, My Place - A Woman's Health Resource Center, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, National Black Leadership Initiative on Cancer/Monica Lamb Wellness Foundation, The Rose, San Jose Clinic, Sisters Network Houston, Star of Hope Mission, True Gospel Holiness Church, Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church and World Maylayalee Council.

---

©2006 Texas Medical Center

---

E-Mail: tmcinfo@texmedctr.tmc.edu
URL: http://www.tmc.edu/tmcnews/10_01_01/page_13.html