NEW ORLEANS – The National Football League’s A Crucial Catch Initiative has provided another year of funding to support increased access to breast cancer education and screening resources in underserved communities through the American Cancer Society.
As part of its Community Health Advocates implementing Nationwide Grants for Empowerment and Equity (CHANGE) initiative, the American Cancer Society has awarded a $50,000 grant to EXCELth Primary Care Network for a second year to continue efforts to provide education, outreach and navigation, and help individuals access breast cancer screenings in New Orleans.
New Orleans is one of 32 cities to have a grant recipient now focused on reducing the unequal burden of cancer by educating women on the importance of regular mammograms. EXCELth plans to reach out to women to educate them about reducing their risk of breast cancer and guide women to low- or no-cost breast cancer screening resources.
“These crucial grants help provide additional health resources to increase access to care for women in need,” said Sheila Webb, Ph. D., APRN, CNS, Associate Clinical Director of EXCELth, Incorporated. “Our hope is that by raising breast cancer awareness, it will result in women taking action in positive health behaviors with annual exams and screenings and adopting healthy lifestyle behaviors overall.”
Since 2012, CHANGE grants funded by the NFL have been awarded to community health system partners to provide education, outreach, navigation and access to breast cancer screening within communities experiencing an unequal burden of the disease. These community partners have provided more than 260,000 outreach and education engagements and have contributed to more than 120,000 breast cancer screenings provided at low or no cost. This life-changing work continues in 2016 with the goal to provide breast cancer education and screening resources to more women. The Society’s vision is a world free from the pain and suffering of breast cancer and all cancers, and prevention and early detection programs such as the CHANGE grant program helps to eliminate breast cancer health disparities.
The NFL’s A Crucial Catch initiative is funded by the NFL and its fans and partners, with the majority of the contribution coming from the sale of Breast Cancer Awareness-identified pink merchandise and also via the NFL Auction website. The American Cancer Society is the sole beneficiary of the net proceeds from merchandise sales and auctions. The NFL does not profit from the sale or auction of pink merchandise.
The $50,000 grant will be used to support “A Crucial Catch Day,” a community health event on Tuesday, Oct. 25, in New Orleans. Two events in New Orleans will offer free education and family-friendly activities for participants of all ages. The health events will be held at EXCELth Family Health Center in Algiers, 4422 General Meyer Ave., Ste. 103, and at the EXCELth Family Health Center in New Orleans East, 9900 Lake Forest Blvd., from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The first 50 women who attend will receive a free T-shirt and tote bag.
