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What's New
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) issued updated guidelines for mammography screening on July 21, 2011.
Click here to read the press release.
AFW responds to the recommendations of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force regarding mammography screenings
On November 16, 2009, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommended changing current mammography screening guidelines to begin biennial screening in women aged 50, discontinue screening for women over 75 years of age, and no longer promote self breast exam. The Avon Foundation continues to support the guidelines recommended by expert groups – American Cancer Society, American College of Radiology, Susan G. Komen for the Cure and others – including that women get to know their own bodies through breast self awareness and immediately report any changes to their doctor, begin annual screening mammography at age 40, and continue annual screening mammography for as long as the woman is in good health.
Click here to read the entire statement...
News from latest
studies Hot
flushes are linked with a significant reduction in
breast cancer risk.
Read the article...
Earlier hormone therapy elevates breast cancer risk.
Read the article...
Newsletters
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May 2011 |
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In this issue:
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New Research Findings Presented at the Annual Avon Foundation Breast Cancer Forum
Over 100 Avon Foundation-supported researchers gathered in New York City on March 1 and 2 to listen to 20 presentations. The two-day event highlighted works Avon Foundation-funded researchers are conducting on the causes of breast cancer, and new diagnostic and preventative strategies. The Avon Foundation's annual Forum gathers experts from the Foundation's more than 300 breast cancer-related research and access to care beneficiaries, including advocates and renowned scientists and physicians representing major cancer centers, academic medical centers and universities, including the eight Avon Comprehensive Breast Cancer Care Centers of Excellence.
Research findings included:
• Certain viruses with the capacity to cause cancer have been found in breast cancer tissues. In a study conducted by the University of California, San Francisco and University of California, Berkeley, human papilloma virus (HPV), and bovine leukemia virus (BLV) were found in malignant human breast tissues. These preliminary findings raise the hope that the presence of those viruses may help to identify women at risk of developing breast cancer, according to Gertrude Buehring, Ph.D. and Kimberly Baltzell, PhD, the study’s leaders. However, they emphasize that further studies are needed to compare the frequency of these viruses in breast cancer tissues compared to normal breast tissues to determine the magnitude of the potential risk. These stimulating findings highlight the important need for research funding in this area to either rule out, or in, a potential role for viruses and/or other infectious agents in breast cancer etiology.
• Immediately following pregnancy, there is an increased risk of breast cancer for up to 5 years or even longer.
However, women who undergo their first full-term pregnancy before the age of 30 have a greatly reduced risk of breast cancer after menopause, according to research presented by Pepper Schedin, PhD, University of Colorado Denver and Jose Russo, MD, Fox Chase Cancer Center. This line of research seeks to better understand breast cancer risk and to potentially develop new ways to reduce risk and prevent the disease.
• African-American women experience higher breast cancer mortality than white women, which is partly attributable to their development of poor prognosis tumors and differences in access and treatment, according to research from Ruth O’Regan, MD of Emory University/Georgia Cancer Center for Excellence.
The Avon Foundation provides nearly $40 million to fund breast cancer research and access to care annually. For more information on the Avon Foundation’s breast cancer funding, please go to
www.avonfoundation.org.
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Study Shows that Evidenced-Based Strategies Widely Used by Avon BHOP Grantees
The May 2011 issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine published the results of the Avon BHOP 2008 Evaluation Study. The article,"Use of Evidence-Based Strategies to Promote Mammography Among Medically Underserved Women," discusses the wide use of evidence-based strategies among Avon BHOP-funded organizations. It also explored the high percentage of recent mammography use among women exposed to the strategies, suggesting that medically underserved women are benefiting from effective interventions to increase mammography use. For more information about the journal article, read the
abstract or
contact us.
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Words of Inspiration from the Field
We believe it is the positively rewarding outcomes the AVON Breast Health Outreach Program produces that keep us all passionate about the important work we do. Correspondingly, we received a letter from Joanne, a fellow grantee from Manden, MA who's note captures the challenges and rewards of our work so well, we just had to share:
We had an amazing year with many great successes and some challenges. Recently, it has become increasingly difficult in getting responses from mail reminders and we find ourselves spending more time trying to reach women through phone calls. We get frustrated with the lack of responses; however, because most of our dedicated volunteers are breast cancer survivors, we are even more persistent and never give up!
In this economic landscape, many of our participants have moved or been displaced which makes it harder to reach some women. Because we do outreach at the same places over and over again, where we first captured them, we are successful in reconnecting with quite a few but not all. However we believe that half a loaf is better than none.
I have been doing this since 1994 and by now one would think it would be a piece of cake. WRONG! Reaching women and holding onto them from season to season is a huge task that takes diligence, persistence and a whole lot of prayers for favor when we discuss the importance of breast health!
“THAT’S MY STORY AND I’M STICKING WITH IT”. I love the part of my job when I can convince someone about being Breast Healthy.
Joanne Stroud-Lebeau, Specialist for Women's Programs
YWCA Malden
Malden, MA
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Send Us Your Stories
Grantee Spotlights features innovative programs developed by Avon BHOP grantees with moving testimonials of their clients. We are always looking for success stories, such as original outreach strategies, educational programs and special events. The common thread among the stories is how the work and outreach of this program is educating communities and facilitating access to services to medically underserved populations. View our
map of Avon BHOP Grantee Spotlights from across the US and read inspirational stories from fellow Avon grantees.
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Sustaining Outreach After Natural Disasters
Like you, we know that AVON BHOP grantees work hard daily to reach underserved women in need nationwide. Each day, challenges are met and obstacles are overcome. In the wake of a natural disaster, like the recent tornado devastation in the Midwest, outreach hurdles often become even higher. AVON BHOP colleagues impacted by this natural disaster not only need your support, but your suggestions as well. Have ideas on how to maximize available resources? Know of effective outreach strategies under similar circumstances? If you other BHOP partners have suggestions for grantees facing challenges, we ask that you post your suggestions on our
Facebook page today.
For additional BHOP grantee resources and tools, check out our
Resource Center.
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Support
the 2011 Avon Walk
We believe that all Avon BHOP grant recipients can make more of a difference this year, making 2011 the best year yet! There are many ways to get participate in an Avon Walk in your city or in one nearby. For a free Avon Walk Toolkit and for more way s to get involved, please
email us.
Mark your calendars with these upcoming 2011 Avon Walks:
Rocky Mountains, CO (June 25 – 26)
San Francisco (July 9 – 10)
Santa Barbara (September 17-18)
New York City (October 15-16)
Charlotte, NC (October 22-23)
2012 Avon Walk Dates:
Houston (April 16-17)
Washington, DC (April 30-May 1)
Boston (May 14-15)
Chicago (June 4-5)
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We would love to see your involvement with Avon Walks across the
country! Please send us your photos, videos and stories.
African Women’s Wellness
hosted a cheering station for all Avon Walk participants in
Washington DC.
Support the Avon Walks by:
- "Liking" the
Avon Walk Facebook page and posting updates on what
your organization is doing
- Following the
Avon Walk on Twitter
and re-Tweeting messages to
your Twitter community
- Including the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in your email signature.
Consider adding the following message to your emails:
Get IN IT TO
END IT! Join the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. Register, volunteer or
donate today at www.avonwalk.org or 1-888-540-WALK
We hope to see many
of you at one of the Avon Walks in 2011!
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Stay Connected with Avon BHOP
Join the
Avon BHOP Facebook page to share what you've been up to with other program partners, and check out the
Avon Walk Facebook page to connect with the larger community.
Find us on
Facebook!
 You
can also follow
Avon Walkers
and keep up with Marc
Hurlbert,
Executive Director of the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade, on Twitter.
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Contact Us
For more information about the Avon Breast Health Outreach Program (BHOP) or this e-newsletter, please visit
www.avonbhop.org or email
admin@avonbhop.org.
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March 2011 |
 Interview
with Marc Hurlbert
The Avon Foundation for Women, American Cancer Society, Susan G.
Komen Foundation and NBCCEDP work collectively to fight breast
cancer. Marc Hurlbert, PhD, executive director of the Avon
Foundation Breast Cancer Crusade, recently discussed the importance
of collaborating with other national breast cancer organizations.
How did collaborations get started?
When I joined Avon Foundation, I saw there were so many groups and
people passionate about ending breast cancer. I thought if we could
all work together through collaboration and cooperation, we could
more rapidly achieve our collective goals. It took a few years, but
I found leadership of many other groups - American Cancer Society
(ACS), Susan G. Komen for the Cure (Komen), the Center for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC), the Breast Cancer Research Foundation
(BCRF) and others - shared a similar idea as I did. Avon Foundation
and I led the group effort, gathering 120 representatives from 30
organizations for a day and half meeting in November 2007. Since
that time, numerous collaborations have been started.
Describe some joint programs.
In the area of breast cancer research, Avon, Komen, and ACS are now
coding information about the grants that we fund in a systematic way
and pooling this grant information in two shared databases:
www.cancerportfolio.org and
www.ghrasp.org.
This helps each of our organizations to make strategic plans and
find unique areas where we can invest our research dollars. Another
exciting collaboration in research is that Avon, BCRF, and Komen are
co-funding the Translational Breast Cancer Research Consortium. The
Consortium is a network of 16 leading cancer centers working
together to develop new treatments for breast cancer. These are just
a few examples of ongoing collaboration.
What is the importance of partnering with the CDC and the
NBCCEDP?
One area most of our groups care deeply about is making sure that
all women and men can access breast cancer screening and treatment,
regardless of their ability to pay. Avon, ACS chapters, and Komen
affiliates each support grass-roots community based programs
throughout the country. Many of these groups are CDC-funded National
Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP)
providers or partners. Over the past few years all four groups - the
three nonprofits and the NBCCEDP - have been holding joint meetings
and been in discussions at the NBCCEDP directors' meeting on ways to
continue to improve our collaboration at the national level.
At the local level, Avon, ACS chapters, and Komen affiliates are
working together in several cities throughout the country (including
Boston, Chicago, Houston, New York, Washington D.C.). Better
coordination of nonprofit and government-funded activities will help
to ensure more women are helped and that collectively we keep an eye
out for vulnerable populations and step in to help right away.
Thoughts about the future?
All of the efforts I describe are only possible because several
passionate and caring people realize the value of coming together. I
personally do not want any credit for these early successes. My hope
is the time and effort put into these collaborations will help care
for women today who need to be screened or who have breast cancer,
and that through better coordinate of ongoing research we can once
and for all end this disease.
Follow Marc Hurlbert on
Twitter.
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 Free
Avon BHOP Banners!We are giving away a limited number
of Avon BHOP banners* via a lottery. If your agency would like to be
considered to receive one of the banners, please email
admin@avonbhop.org before
March 15.
*Due to a printer error, some banners have color
distortion. |
Latest Grantee Spotlights
Our latest grantee spotlights include the partnership between the
Chinese American Services League and Mercy Hospital of Chicago, and
the Women's Wellness Breast Center at St. Elizabeth Medical Center
of Edgewood, KY.Read about these and more grantees in our
Grantee Spotlight section. |
Upcoming 2011 Webinars
Log in to our grantees-only site for
information on these upcoming webinars:
•March 30: "How your agency can get involved with 2011 Avon Walk"
•April 12: "T-DM1 & EMILIA Clinical Trial Update"
•April 28: "Using the Avon BHOP CIF summary data report to enhance
your breast health program"Missed a previous webinar? Visit the
archived webinars page (login required). |
Support the 2011 Avon Walk
The ninth season of the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer steps off on
April 16, 2011, in Houston. The Avon Walk series, which funds Avon
BHOP, has raised more than $380 million since it launched in 2003.
Last year nearly 22,000 participants supported by hundreds of
thousands of donors raised more than $55 million to support
organizations like yours. Avon BHOP received $6 million in 2010 to
support our BHOP beneficiaries.
The complete 2011 Avon Walk for Breast Cancer schedule includes:
Houston (April 16-17)
Washington, DC (April 30-May 1)
Boston (May 14-15)
Chicago (June 4-5)
Rocky Mountains, CO (June 25 – 26)
San Francisco (July 9 – 10)
Santa Barbara (September 17-18)
New York City (October 15-16)
Charlotte, NC (October 22-23)
We are very pleased that so many Avon BHOP organizations are
actively involved in the Walk every year. We encourage all BHOP
grant recipients to get involved in some way to make 2011 the best
year yet! Whether there is an Avon Walk in your community or not,
there are many ways to get involved.Here's how BHOP organizations
can support the Avon Walks:
- Form an Avon Walk team within your organization and include
your friends and family
- Help the Avon Foundation promote the Walk in your office and
local community by:
- Displaying Avon Walk posters or "point-of-purchase"
(POP) stands with brochures (Email
us to request materials.)
- Asking local businesses to display POP stands
- Use social media and email/website communications to support
the Avon Walks by:
- "Liking" the
Avon Walk Facebook page and posting updates on what your
organization is doing
- Following the
Avon Walk on Twitter and re-Tweeting messages to your
Twitter community
- Including the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in your email
signature. Consider adding the following message to your
emails: Get IN IT TO END IT! Join the Avon
Walk for Breast Cancer. Register, volunteer or donate today
at
www.avonwalk.org or 1-888-540-WALK.
- Post a link to the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer on your
website. (Download
the Avon Walk logo.)
For more information or to register for an Avon Walk for Breast
Cancer, visit
www.avonwalk.org or call 888-540-WALK.
We hope to see many of you at one of the Avon Walks in 2011! |
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2010 Avon BHOP Data Report We are
pleased to announce that during 2010, our 129 Avon BHOP Grantees
provided the following services:
- Provided outreach and education to over 5 million people
- Recruited 121,861 women into breast cancer screening
- Navigated 18,840 for further diagnostics
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Stay Social with Avon BHOP
Join the
Avon Walk Facebook page
to share with other grantees what you've been up to, and check out
the
Avon Walk Facebook page to connect with the larger community.
You can also follow
Avon Walkers and
Marc Hurlbert,
Executive Director of the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade, on Twitter. |
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| November 2010 | |
Showing Support
at Avon Walk New York
 The
Avon Walk New York, held Oct 16-17, was a huge success! The event
raised more than $9.4 million and attracted more than 3,900 participants
from 46 states and Washington, D.C., as well as the United Kingdom,
Mexico, Canada, F us on Facebook! Find us on Facebook! us on Facebook! uded 420 breast cancer
survivors, who joined together to raise lifesaving funds and awareness
for breast cancer.
2010 Avon Walk participant Liana Chiew is the Women's Health
Program Coordinator at the Charles B. Wang Community Health Center in
New York. She wrote about her organization's cheering station at the
Avon Walk New York, reporting that a few strangers cheered alongside her
group from the health center while handing out handmade pink paper
ribbons. Avon walkers showed their appreciation by yelling 'thank you'
to staff and giving high fives as they passed, keeping spirits high.
Liana
wrote to us: "The color pink is a well-established symbol of breast
cancer awareness in the United States, and during the month of October
it appears throughout New York City and the nation to remind us of its
importance. The next time you see a pink shirt or a pink ribbon, think
about these facts: Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in
women in the United States, and the second leading cause of cancer death
in Asian American women."
The 2010 Avon Walk season, which ended in October, raised more $55
million and attracted more than 22,000 participants. |
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Avon
BHOP Banners a Hit
The response to our new Avon BHOP Banner has been sensational! We
have distributed 15 banners to 26 grantees' educational events
across the United States since September. It is such a great way to
attract attention that two of our grantees bought their own banners
for use year round.
If you would like to borrow a banner for your next function, contact
Dianne Bal with the dates, and she will get you on the schedule.
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Avon Foundation
for Women receives CDC Award
On Sept. 8-10, 2010, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) marked the 20th anniversary of the National Breast and Cervical
Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP). The CDC-administered program
provides access to lifesaving cancer screenings and treatment for
low-income and uninsured women. It has provided more than 8 million
screening exams to more than 3 million women, and it has detected more
than 37,000 cases of breast cancer.
The Avon Foundation for Women, along with the Susan G. Komen for the
Cure and American Cancer Society, were presented with a Partnership
Award. The Avon Foundation for Women has been a strong partner with
NBCCEDP since the early 1990s.
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Avon BHOP to present poster at SABCS
Avon BHOP
staff will present a poster entitled "Organizational Use of
Evidence-Based Strategies to Promote Timely Mammography Among
Medically Underserved Clients Recruited Through the Avon Breast
Health Outreach Program" at the 2010 San Antonio Breast Cancer
Symposium (SABCS).
The SABCS
is an annual international scientific symposium with more than
17,000 participants who share the latest discoveries and
developments in the field. This year's symposium takes place
December 8-12, 2010.
D ownload the
Community Guide Preventive Services Summary here.
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Mammography Decision Aid for Women
Avon BHOP is partnering with the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute on
a project in the Boston area. This study, headed by Dr. Jennifer
Allen at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard School of
Public Health, will use focus groups to examine the controversy and
confusion around mammography guidelines for women in their 40s who
may be considering screening.
Dr. Allen
and her team will search for existing print materials, conduct key
informant interviews, and conduct focus groups with women ages 39 to
49 who represent a diverse range of ethnicities and are from low
income/literacy backgrounds. We will use this information to develop
messages on making informed decisions about when to get a mammogram.
In the second phase of the study, we will ask women to review our
sample decision aid and give us feedback in a semi-structured,
cognitive interview. Based on their input, we will finalize the
material and develop a plan for disseminating it in a final Decision
Aid brochure.
For more information about this study, please contact
admin@avonbhop.org. |
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August 2010 | Avon-funded evaluation shows encouraging results
The Task Force on Community Preventive Services recommends several strategies to increase the use of mammography, including: - client reminders
- small media (i.e. videos, letters, newsletters, brochures)
- one-on-one education
- strategies to remove structural barriers (such as providing transportation, interpretation services, child care, or flexible service hours)
- linking women with free or low-cost screening services to reduce out-of-pocket costs for clients
These findings were based on data from a March 2009 online survey of 86 Avon BHOP grantees, as well as routinely collected client intake data, as part of an Avon-funded evaluation of promising practices for recruiting underserved women for breast cancer screening and rescreening. The evaluation team plans to submit results of the study for publication, and a comprehensive report will be made available to Avon grantees in the coming months.
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Be a voice for Avon BHOP webinars
Avon BHOP is looking for webinar presenters! Do you want to share what
your agency will be doing to celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness
Month? Please email us at admin@avonbhop.org if you want to present your event at the next webinar on September 16, 2010, entitled "Celebrating Breast Cancer Awareness Month."
For a list of our previous webinars, along with audio archives and presentation materials, click here (login required). |
 From the Field: "Chemo caps" available for distribution
The
Chenango Health Network of Norwich, NY is distributing hats and blankets to people
in cancer treatment. For details about the "Chemo Cap" project or to receive a selection of
caps to offer
chemotherapy patients, contact Kendra
Ives, Cancer Support Services Coordinator, at
(607) 337-4128 or Kendra@chenangohealth.org.
About the Project
In 2009 a new project was undertaken by Cancer Support Services at Chenango Health Network and a local ATV club. The project offers "chemo caps" to people undergoing chemotherapy. With the cap they receive a canvas bag containing also a lap blanket, lip balm, lotion, puzzle book, pen, and a Chenango Health Network notebook.
For those undergoing chemotherapy, hair loss is a common side effect. Besides the aesthetic aspect, bare heads can get really cold in the Northeast. Soft, close-fitting caps can make a comfortable difference at a time when treatment makes one uncomfortable. And a lap blanket can ward off the chill often felt in hospitals.
Members of the Wheelers ATV Club spread the word when they discovered there was a need. Along with their friends and others who offered to help, the Wheelers ATV Club members have knitted and crocheted their fingers to the bone to provide loving tokens of support to those undergoing treatment. To date they have contributed over 2,800 knitted or crocheted hats and hundreds of lap blankets for people experiencing cancer treatment.
Chenango Health Network has distributed almost 2,000 caps. Besides accompanying "companion bags," baskets of hats are found in the Broome Oncology waiting rooms at Chenango Memorial Hospital in Norwich and Lourdes Hospital in Binghamton. Bassett Healthcare in Norwich, Chenango County Public Health, and the Area Agency on Aging received caps to offer their clients who are undergoing chemotherapy. The "Chemo Caps" are gifts meant to be kept, but two cancer patients returned their caps after treatment so that others could enjoy the comfort the cap offers! The project has taken on a force of its own!
-Sharon Brooks, Chenango Health Network, Norwich, NY
"Riding with Respect" is the slogan for the Sherburne Wheelers ATV Club, an active organization that promotes safe riding, encourages conservation and preservation of riding areas. In addition, the Wheelers give back to the community they live in by helping others.
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 Avon Walk News
"The June 4-5, 2010, Chicago Avon Walk was truly amazing. Words alone cannot do justice. You become not just a volunteer but an actual piece of the event, connecting with the participants, striving to reach the same goal, and personally giving and observing the continued caring and compassionate feelings displayed throughout the entire two-day event. You feel a sense of power and hope knowing you are all united in this together. It's an experience you'll never forget. Each year becomes another stepping stone, and it just keeps getting better and better."--Avon Medical Crew, 2010 Chicago Avon Walk
Program Coordinator, Saint Francis Hospital Breast CenterEvanston, Illinois
Ways you can get involved:
1. SPREAD THE WORD by
displaying and distributing Avon Walk brochures and posters in prominent
locations in your community, health fairs, and your work facility.
2. WEBSITE/EMAIL: Include the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in your website and
emails by adding www.avonwalk.org to
your homepage and email signature.
3. PARTICIPATE:
a. WALK - Each walker commits to raising a minimum of $1,800
to participate, but you'd be surprised how easy it is, and how much fun it is
to fundraise as a group!
b. CREW - Be part of our volunteer crew! All crew positions
are filled for the 2010 season, but you can register extra-early to crew in
2011.
c. VOLUNTEER - Help with check-in on Friday or at the
ceremonies on Saturday and Sunday. There are also opportunities to display your
program literature/materials at the Avon Foundation booth.
d. CHEER - Host a cheering station along the route with
friends, family, coworkers, and clients to give a boost to our walkers and show
them your support. Or join us at the Wellness Village & Closing Ceremony
Cheering Section (open to the public from 12 noon-7:30 p.m.). On Sunday,
walkers enter the ceremony site between 11 a.m.-2 p.m., and the Closing
Ceremony starts at 3 p.m. Locations for each city can be found at www.avonwalk.org.
4. FUNDRAISE: Can't participate in an Avon Walk, or don't live near an Avon Walk
city? Not to worry! Put your creative skills to work; from garage sales and car
washes to raffles and bake sales, the only limit is your imagination!
5. SEND MATERIALS to display at the walks - Please email Carolyn Ricci at carolyn.ricci@avonfoundation.org.
Have any questions about the Avon Walk? Please call 1-888-553-WALK.
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August Grantee Spotlight
YWCA/ENCOREplus of
Binghamton, NY is this month's grantee spotlight. Under the leadership of
Crystal Lown, Program Coordinator, the program distributes current, comprehensive breast and cervical health information to every woman in the organization's surrounding counties. ENCOREplus staff members also offer education and outreach assistance to all women who face barriers that prevent them from obtaining annual screening mammograms.
Read more about YWCA/ENCOREplus and other grantees in our Grantee Spotlight section
of the website.
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May 2010 |
Avon BHOP: New Name, Same Mission
Cicatelli Associates Inc. has been managing
the Avon Foundation Breast Care Fund for the
Avon Foundation for Women for more than 10
years, and at the February 21, 2010 Avon
Forum in San Francisco, the Foundation
announced a new name for the project: Avon
Breast Health Outreach Programs (BHOP).
This important project will continue with
the mission of reaching women most in need
of breast health education and screening
services. Through the program, financial
support will remain focused on supporting
community-based organizations that provide
education and outreach to medically
underserved women, including low-income,
older, and minority women. For more
information, visit
www.avonbhop.org.
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 2010 Avon Forum
The 2010 Avon Foundation Breast Cancer Forum
held in San Francisco brought together more
than 275 of its grantees, including breast
cancer community health educators, patient
navigators, nurses, and physicians from all
over the country to participate in
discussions about programs that enable women
to access early detection programs and
breast cancer treatment.
Some comments from attendees include: "All
the speakers were excellent and thought
provoking"; "A great chance to network with
others"; "...took away a lot of great ideas
to help me with my work"; "This was the best
Avon Forum."
Collectively, this network of Avon
Foundation for Women-funded programs
educates more than 1,000,000 people each
year on breast health care, links 150,000
women to mammography screening, and
navigates thousands of breast cancer
patients through treatment and care.
To access some of the speakers'
presentations, go to the Grantees Only
section of
www.avonbhop.org. In addition, Forum
photos and videos are posted on our
Facebook page.
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Welcome to Our New Grantees
Nueva Vida
Washington, DC
The mission of Nueva Vida is to inform, support,
and empower Latinas whose lives are affected by
cancer, while advocating and facilitating timely
access to state-of-the-art cancer care including
screening, diagnosis, treatment, and care for
all Latinas.
Puentes de
Esperanza (Bridges of Hope)
East St. Louis, IL
Puentes de Esperanza (Bridges of Hope) is a
faith-based organization seeking to enhance the
quality of life of the growing Latino community
in St. Clair and Madison Counties in Illinois.
Since 2001, Puentes has utilized direct
services, partnerships, and advocacy to provide
services and meet the social, educational,
health, and spiritual needs of this community.
The breast health program at Puentes is part of
their de Salud Para Mujeres (Women's Health
Initiative), a community-based, cultural, and
linguistically specific program which has linked
underserved Latinas to breast health services
since 2005.
African Wellness Center
Montgomery Village, MD
Established in 2007, the African Wellness Center
(AWC) provides culturally and linguistically
appropriate health education programs to the
African immigrant community in the Washington
Metropolitan area (Maryland, District of
Columbia, and Virginia). Its goal is to reduce
the incidence of and mortality rates from breast
cancer by improving access to early breast
cancer screening for African immigrant women.
Forsyth Medical Center Foundation
Winston Salem,
NC
The goal of this comprehensive,
community-centered breast health program is to
expand outreach, education, screening, and
diagnostic services to at least 350 women 40+ in
age. The program targets those most in need of
breast health education and screening services
in six counties in northwest North Carolina,
including Forsyth, Davidson, Davie, Stokes,
Surry, and Yadkin.
Anderson Free
Clinic
Anderson, SC
The Anderson Free Clinic serves uninsured women
in Anderson County, South Carolina, whose
household income falls below the Federal Poverty
Level. The goal of the expanded Women's Health
program is to provide educational outreach,
annual clinical breast exams, annual screening
mammograms, and necessary follow-up for abnormal
results of these exams.
For a full list of 2010 Avon BHOP-funded
programs, visit:
www.avonbreastcare.org/fundingprograms.htm
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From the Field: Feed the Children Program a Hit!
by Karla
Iverson, Women's Health Program Director,
YWCA of Salem
Late in 2008, we received our first shipment
of Avon products from Feed the Children. We
were absolutely stunned at the variety of
products in that shipment! We received two
large pallets of Avon cosmetics and bath
products, including makeup, body oil, soap,
foot care items, and ornaments. We were able
to use these items as door prizes, incentive
gifts, and prizes for booth drawings at
health fairs, and share some of them with
our homeless resources program.
Each shipment is different, and the contents
depend on what Avon and Feed the Children
have put together. One shipment may contain
more clothing and hygiene items, while
another may be mostly cosmetics. These
products were given to us by the case, not
as a few items here and there.
Before we received this shipment, we had
been buying little pink items as incentive
gifts at costs starting from 10 cents per
item, with the majority costing about 35
cents per item, and a few costing a dollar
or more each. We calculated that our cost
per incentive item from the Avon Feed the
Children shipment was about 2 cents each!
Women who attend our breast health
presentations and health fairs seem to
really enjoy receiving the Avon products as
door prizes and rewards for games on breast
health facts. In addition, the incentives
offer an easy conversational way to tell
women about the work that the Avon
Foundation supports throughout the country,
including the YWCA of Salem's breast health
program.
We can't wait to see what will be in our
next shipment!
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