Avon Foundation $50K Grant Benefits YWCA Breast Cancer Detection Program

Online, January 11, 2012 (Newswire.com) - The Avon Foundation for Women's Breast Health Outreach Program awarded a $50,000 one-year grant to the YWCA Greater Triangle last year to continue to increase awareness of the life-saving benefits of early detection of breast cancer and to provide free screening mammograms for uninsured, eligible women. The grant for 2011 was the 10th year that the YWCA received funding from the Avon Foundation for Women.

The YWCA breast health program ENCOREplus® provides screenings and education to women in Wake, Johnston, and Franklin counties. Thanks to support from the Avon Foundation, the vital program provides free screening mammograms and clinical breast exams to uninsured women over age 40 with a household income of less than $30,000 per year. The program also offers free door-to-door transportation to YWCA breast health screenings for women within Wake County.

"We are proud to partner with the Avon Foundation for Women, because they passionately share our mission to reach low-resource women with vital services," said Folami Bandele, chief executive officer, YWCA Greater Triangle. "This grant supports our program to ensure that all women, especially medically underserved women, have access to breast cancer early detection."

Over the past year, the YWCA's ENCOREplus program has reached more than 15,000 women in the region with screenings and information about the importance of early detection of breast cancer. More than 650 women have been referred for mammograms and clinical breast exams, and the lives of two women have been saved thanks to the program.

Since 1993, the Avon Foundation has awarded more than 1,425 grants to community-based breast health programs across the U.S., including the YWCA's ENCOREplus program. The Foundation's National Advisory Board selected the YWCA Greater Triangle as one of 125 grant recipients last year based on its ability to effectively reach women, particularly minority, low-income, and older women, who are often medically underserved. These programs help to educate underserved women about breast cancer and refer them to early detection screening services.

Established in Raleigh, N.C. in 1901, the YWCA Greater Triangle unites the community to address social and economic disparities, making a life-changing difference for thousands of area women and their families. YWCA Health programs combat alarming rates of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and stroke among uninsured and low-income women through personalized health education, screenings, prevention and wellness programs. As a private, non-profit organization, the YWCA is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all people. http://www.ywcatriangle.org

For information about YWCA ENCOREplus, contact (919) 256-8102. To learn more about Avon Foundation for Women, call 1-866-505-AVON or visit www.avonfoundation.org to access the free, printable Breast Health Resource Guide.

The Avon Foundation for Women, an accredited 501(c)(3) public charity, was founded in 1955 to improve the lives of women and is the world's largest corporate-affiliated philanthropy focused on issues that matter most to women. Avon philanthropy focuses its funding on breast cancer research and access to care, efforts to reduce domestic and gender violence, its women's environmental movement to nurture nature, and efforts to provide relief and recovery in times of major natural disasters and emergencies. Since the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade launched in 1992, Avon breast cancer programs in more than 50 countries have donated more than $700 million for research and advancing access to care, regardless of a person's ability to pay. In addition to receiving generous support from Avon Products, Inc., and its sale of Avon "pink ribbon" products, the Foundation raises funds through a variety of events and walks, such as the U.S. Avon Walk for Breast Cancer series.

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