Current Grant Recipients

The Southwest Michigan Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure® proudly announces our grant recipients for fiscal year 2012-2013. This year’s grants total more than $300,000 and are being awarded to four programs covering services across the eight counties in our affiliate coverage area: Allegan, Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph and VanBuren counties. These grants will support a variety of innovative programs that offer a comprehensive range of breast health services.  The projects have been recommended 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 2012 - 2013  Community Grant Recipients

 
$150,000 to West Michigan Cancer Center for Pink Saturdays, a program providing free mammograms to uninsured women in Southwest Michigan during the month of October. The Pink Saturdays program is made possible through partnerships with mammography centers throughout Southwest Michigan, targeting 2,000 free mammograms for women who would not otherwise be able to have this potentially live saving screening. For more information about the Pink Saturdays Program call 1-800-873-0649.

$85,000 to the Kalamazoo County Health and Community Services Department for a wrap-around to Breast & Cervical Cancer Control Program (BCCCP).  This grant will make screening and diagnostic services available to low-income uninsured women, who cannot get a slot in the federal and state funded BCCC Program.  The targeted audience to receive services will be women under age 50 and men.  Services will be delivered throughout the 8 counties in southwest Michigan by BCCCP-contracted Medical Providers

$40,000 to Lakeland HealthCare’s Marie Yeager Cancer Center in Berrien County to support Lakeland HealthCare Compassion Cards. Through this new program, 100 free breast cancer screenings and/or diagnostic services will be provided to uninsured and underinsured women living at or below the poverty level. Additionally, transportation assistance will be offered to enable access to these potentially life-saving services.

$24,000 to Access Breast Cancer Screenings to provide the Southwest Michigan community with a breast cancer safety net, covering free or discounted diagnostic services to individuals with symptoms of breast cancer, who are unable to access other programs due to age, gender, medical situation or timing concerns.

Small Grants make a Big Impact!
Komen Southwest Michigan has provided funding for two projects through our small grants program.

The Cancer Care Center at Bronson Battle-Creek has been granted $4,500 to provide each breast cancer patient with a multi-functional,  tote bag that will contain educational/resource material, a small comfort pillow for chest positioning and a post-surgical camisole that allows for drain management as necessary.  This tote will be presented to each patient by the Nurse Navigator.

Access Breast Cancer Screenings, has been granted $5,000 to fund educational literature focusing on the need for early screening and funding to create and display a breast health exhibit at the Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program’s State meeting.  

Grantee Testimonial

Access Breast Cancer Screenings is grateful for the small grant of $5,000 recently awarded from the Southwest Michigan Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure to be used for breast cancer educational projects. These funds will allow ABCS to produce patient educational materials about ABCS, screening and diagnostic testing. Materials will be distributed to medical clinics and at various exhibits and health fairs. ABCS volunteers will be able to travel and participate in State breast cancer meetings and to visit county health departments in the eight counties of Southwest Michigan. ABCS also plans to do some targeted breast cancer/ breast health education projects in Southwest Michigan zip codes where breast cancer mortality rates are highest.