FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Andrea Rader
Susan G. Komen®
972-855-4382
press@komen.org
Dallas, TX – July 15, 2013 – More than $8.5 million raised by customers from one of the nation’s largest retailers will help pay for treatment support and screenings for breast cancer patients in communities across the country served by the world’s largest breast cancer organization, Walgreens and Komen announced today.
Nearly half of the $8.5 million donated by customers will be used to fund community health and education programs in local communities served by Komen’s national network of Affiliates. Another $2 million will be used specifically to support screening mammograms for medically underserved women, through grants to local nonprofit organizations. The remainder of the funds will be used to expand Komen’s national breast care helpline, provide treatment assistance, and support special initiatives for vulnerable populations.
“Walgreens and its customers across the country are helping to make a huge difference for women and men facing breast cancer,” said Komen’s Chief Mission Officer, Chandini Portteus. “These funds will help us improve access to quality cancer care for low-income and medically underserved people, as we enhance access to screenings and continue to educate women about their risk for this disease.”
Walgreens customers donated the funds at its more than 8,000 locations across the country during a special donation at checkout promotion last October.
“It’s important for individuals to have access to programs that can help detect, as well as treat such prevalent diseases like breast cancer,” said Kermit Crawford, Walgreens president of pharmacy, health and wellness. “We’d like to thank our customers for their contributions and aligned commitment to helping people get, stay and live well.”
The money raised will be directed to local community health programs granted through Komen’s nationwide Affiliate network, which paid for more than 700,000 breast screenings in 2011 and provided financial social and patient support to another 100,000 women and men in 2011 alone.
“These funds will help us enhance the programs Komen Affiliates already fund to serve the most vulnerable populations in our neighborhoods,” said Carol Corcoran, Komen senior vice president of the Affiliate Network. “Our entire Affiliate Network is deeply appreciative to Walgreens and Walgreens customers for their generosity and commitment to ending this disease.”
Komen further recognized the generosity of Walgreens and its customers during the recent 2013 Susan G. Komen Leadership Conference held in Dallas, TX. The retailer was honored with Komen’s prestigious “Mission Possible” award, given each year to the Komen partner who is responsible for the most significant assistance in enabling Komen to save lives and end breast cancer forever.
Affiliate funding in Houston, made possible by national and local partners, community fundraisers/events and individual donors, will be used to support the following programs:
CLICK HERE FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF KOMEN HOUSTON'S 2013-2014 GRANT RECIPIENTS
About Susan G. Komen® and the Houston Affiliate
Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer. In 1982 that promise became Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, launching the global breast cancer movement and the largest group of volunteers and grassroots advocates to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all, and energize science to find the cures. Visit www.komen.org.
Established in 1990 by passionate volunteers to support the individuals in need throughout the Houston area, the Houston Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure® has granted over $45 million to local programs for breast cancer education and awareness campaigns, life saving screening and treatment programs, and innovative cutting edge research. Serving Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty and Montgomery counties, Komen Houston continues its commitment to fundraising and grant making so that families battling breast cancer can get the treatment and support they need.
If you would like to learn about volunteer opportunities, get information about the Houston Race for the Cure® and other events, visit www.komen-houston.org or call 713-783-9188.
About Walgreens
As the nation's largest drugstore chain with fiscal 2012 sales of $72 billion, Walgreens
(www.walgreens.com) vision is to become America’s first choice for health and daily living. Each day, Walgreens provides more than 6 million customers the most convenient, multichannel access to consumer goods and services and trusted, cost-effective pharmacy, health and wellness services and advice in communities across America. Walgreens scope of pharmacy services includes retail, specialty, infusion, medical facility and mail service, along with respiratory services. These services improve health outcomes and lower costs for payers including employers, managed care organizations, health systems, pharmacy benefit managers and the public sector. The company operates 8,086 drugstores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Take Care Health Systems is a Walgreens subsidiary that is the largest and most comprehensive manager of worksite health and wellness centers and in-store convenient care clinics, with more than 700 locations throughout the country. The Walgreens Way to Well Commitment® is focused on improving your everyday health through the prevention and early detection of today's leading diseases, like heart disease, cancer and diabetes. Our goal is to donate $100 million in preventive resources over four years.