Current Grant Recipients

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.

List of Current Community Grant Recipients

HOPE for the Uninsured Population
Institution: Blue Ridge HealthCare
Blue Ridge HealthCare has received national recognition for their Community Outreach with breast cancer programs.  We have the commitment from leadership to this program and a strong volunteer base in the community.  Each year BRHC establishes a goal of reaching a minimum of 4,000 women in the community with a breast health program.  Measurable objectives are coordinated by the cancer registrar and compiled in data reports reviewed by the Cancer Committee.  These numbers are then used to identify areas of focus for breast health programs and events as a means to increase breast cancer awareness. Currently there are no  other programs or resources in Burke County that provide free mammograms and breast health information to the underserved population. 

Breast Health Education and Screening Outreach
Institution: Caldwell County Health Department
The Caldwell County Health Department along with the Center for Breast  Health of Caldwell Memorial Hospital has developed a free screening program for underserved  women in Caldwell County.  This program provides for women under the age of 50 that do not have adequate insurance and do not qualify for state or federal funding.  This program began in 2002 with a grant from the NC Foothills Komen Affiliate and has continued every year.  This program has provided hundreds of mammograms, numerous breast biopsies and many ultrasounds for women that would have gone unserved because of financial reasons.  This program has also detected several breast cancers in women that would not have had a mammogram because of inability to pay.  So, in these cases this grant has saved the lives of many women, saved the mothers of many babies and has been a great success here in Caldwell County.  We feel the educational programs that we do with the help of this grant allows us to explain the importance of breast health and the importance of having foundations like the Susan G. Komen For A Cure. 

Building a Healthier tomorrow for Women
Institution: Catawba County Public Health
Catawba County Public Health (CCPH) is committed to providing  breast screenings & treatment to women in our community regardless of their ability to pay.  The Adult Preventive Health Clinic provided cancer screening and/or diagnostic services to over 4,000 women in fiscal year 08-09.  These services included exams, screening/diagnostic mammograms, and referral to surgeons & surgical procedures for low income women.  It is our goal to continue to help these women access care that they otherwise might not be able to obtain.  CCPH continues to partner with area hospitals, Cooperative Christian Ministries, physicians and surgeons to address access to care for issues for women, especially for minority populations. 

Healthy Hispanics
Institution: Catawba County Hispanic Ministry
Catawba County Hispanic Ministry (Centro Latino) would like to secure funding to provide 40 free mammograms for Hispanic women in Catawba County.  If Centro Latino is able to secure funding, we would like to deposit the funds in an account with the Health Department and allow them to provide the mammograms for Hispanic women at their location.  Centro Latino will make referrals to the Health Department instead of offering a mobile mammography unit on site.  The women who are served will be tracked at the Health Department and their services will be paid for through the funds secured by Centro Latino.  Once 40 Hispanic women have been served, Centro Latino will be notified and we will complete the final reporting form for the grant.  The reason behind this option this year is that we had a lot of logistical problems getting 20 women at a time to come to Centro Latino and participate in a mobile mammography unit.  This option will allow us to offer the services needed for the women we serve, as they are needed and not just two specific times per year.  We are trying to make better use of our resources and run more efficiently while still offering the same services to our clients.

Working Together for a Healthier Community
Institution: Frye Regional Medical Center Volunteer Auxiliary
We will collaborate with local not for profit health organizations, FryeCare/Frye Regional Medical Center, and area health departments to provide breast health information to 500 people and give 120 free/low cost screening mammograms and 24 free/low cost diagnostic mammograms to women and men (who have a concern) who are uninsured/underinsured. Those people who need further care will be referred to area health  departments with NCBCCCP approval.  Those people being screened would 50 include  minorities and ethnic groups, low income individuals, the newly unemployed, and uninsured/underinsured individuals.  We will be Working Together for a Healthier Community.

Yoga for Breast Cancer Survivors
Institution: Fitness Plus At Catawba Valley Medical Center
In April of 2007, Fitness Plus implemented the Strides to Recovery Wellness Program for Cancer survivors.  As part of this program, Fitness Plus would like to continue Yoga for Breast Cancer Survivors.  Yoga is a well-known activity that increases flexibility, stimulates the mind, and balances the body. Yoga incorporates meditation, relaxation, imagery, controlled breathing, stretching and physical movements.  Researchers at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center found breast cancer survivors who participated in a yoga program reported they were in better general  health, experienced less fatigue and had fewer problems with daytime sleepiness.

Helping Hands Breast Health Initiative
Institution: Helping Hands Clinic, Inc.
Helping Hands Clinic is the only free medical clinic that serves the uninsured residents of Caldwell County.  With support from the Komen Foundation and apart of the Clinic’s new initiative to increase preventative services for the uninsured, Helping Hands will launch the Helping Hands Breast Health Initiative that will provide clinical breast exams to all uninsured patients on record and approximately 2500 new patients.  As a part of the initiative, Helping Hands will also coordinate 2 Breast Health Screenings in partnership with the Health Department and other partners, reaching an additional 100 patients.  Likewise, 4 breast health seminars will be conducted at the Clinic for uninsured patients who are identified as high-risk by the providers.  Finally, as high risk patients are identified, Helping Hands will access free mammograms through our partnership with the Health Department for those patients.  While the community has many options for assistance for low income residents, often times those in need don’t know how to navigate the health care system and find the care they need.

Breast Cancer Prevention, Screening and Diagnosis for Burke County’s Low-Income, Uninsured Population
Institution: Good Samaritan Clinic
Good Samaritan Clinic is an interdenominational Christian ministry providing free medical care, dental care, breast health education and screening, mental health counseling, farm worker outreach, confidential HIV testing and counseling, ancillary services and prescription medications to Burke County residents who are without government assistance, private insurance or the financial resources to afford such care. 

With the support of the Susan G. Komen Foundation, Good Samaritan Clinic has been able to grow its breast health program to provide more services to a diverse patient population.  For 2010-2011, Good Samaritan Clinic is requesting $32,240 to provide an on-site nurse case manager to build upon this growth by continuing to provide breast health education, screening and treatment services to the uninsured while specifically targeting Hispanic and African-American women.  With the nurse case manager position, the clinic is able to leverage more than $100,000 of in-kind services to its patients. 

Primary activities of the program will be to provide education; increase access to screening, referral and treatment services; provide greater outreach through group education; train all clinic staff in cultural competency and bring greater awareness about the work of the Komen Foundation by sharing personal stories and actively participate in Komen events.