Breast cancer groups raised $2.2M last year across Treasure Coast
By Zaimarie De Guzman, Treasure Coast Newspapers, Stuart, Fla. | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
The newspaper found the three breast cancer organizations that made the biggest local impact --
FRIENDS IN PINK
Friends in Pink, which has served only the
The organization spent about 20 percent of that, about
More than 75 percent of the revenue, about
"We focus only on one thing: paying those bills. We ask the individual to take the bills they receive and send them to us, then we negotiate the cost and take care of it," said President
A single mother of one, Melbeuf, 47, lost her job shortly after starting radiation, so the treatment wasn't covered completely by health insurance.
"I was looking at the
Friends in Pink negotiated a lower cost and paid Melbeuf's bill, then made sure she got a free mammogram after her surgery.
Friends in Pink -- Create Infographics
Every year, the
The total of
More than 70 percent went to mission program expenses, which include patient support, research, prevention, detection and treatment. The other roughly 20 percent went to support expenses, which include administration fees and fundraising.
The mission programs available on the
Reach to Recovery, a one-on-one support program between survivors and patients available face-to-face or via phone calls or online chats.
Look Good Feel Better, which provides cancer patients with wigs and also teaches makeup techniques to those whose appearance have suffered from the side effects of cancer treatment.
Reach to Recovery and
"They're very helpful services," said
Sellers, who was laid off from her job between the two breast cancer diagnoses, had insurance that covered only two mastectomy bras. When she reached out to the
And for
"I was trying to wrap my head around -- I have cancer," said Lord, 48. "Right away, the organization sent me information in the mail and I got a phone all from a survivor who reassured me, made me feel better."
The organization also provided several free wigs and wig tutorials for Lord with the Look Good Feel Better program.
"You know, you try to look at it as, 'It's just hair.' But it doesn't take long after chemo till you have to vacuum your hair off your pillow every morning," Lord said. "So being able to wear a wig and learn how to put scarves on -- it makes you feel better going out into the public."
Of the approximately
About 12 percent, or
$613,180, was allocated to grants for breast health programs in
There is no Komen affiliate, including
"Right now,
Sawyer added
Two of the eight
In the Image of Christ, a
"Without that help would we be able to provide free mammograms? Probably not," said
Shore said in 2013, the hospital provided 357 free breast health services through the grant -- including screenings, mammograms, ultrasounds, MRIs and biopsies. Of those 357 who received the services, six were diagnosed with breast cancer. And 22 new patients went through breast cancer treatment using the grant.
"That's a population in our community whose cancers otherwise would not have been detected and who would not have received treatment" Shore said.
INFORMED PINKING
When October comes around every year, it's hard to miss the shelves of pink merchandise promising to support the breast cancer cause.
"Not all pink ribbons are created equally," said
The pink ribbon symbol is not regulated, so it does not have to be linked to any breast cancer organization.
"There should be very clear language on the products if proceeds will benefit a charity," Gabbard said.
On its website, Komen has a list of five best practices for transparent cause marketing. The list says consumers should look on the product or the product website for the name of the charity, an exact donation amount -- such as
"If a product has a generic 'support breast cancer' phrase or just says 'a portion will benefit charity,' you need to think long and hard," Gabbard said, "because that proceed could be a penny."
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(c)2014 the Treasure Coast Newspapers (Stuart, Fla.)
Visit the Treasure Coast Newspapers (Stuart, Fla.) at www.tcpalm.com
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