Susan G. Komen Puget Sound has awarded $794,091* in grants to eight nonprofit, tribal and government agencies that provide vital services to medically underserved women in sixteen counties. Komen Puget Sound, one of the largest private funders of breast health and breast cancer services in Washington state, evaluates and selects grantees through an independent review process.  The grants were announced and presented at the organization’s annual Impact Celebration at the Museum of History and Industry on May 12.

2016-17 Local Grant Recipient – Breast Cancer Screening and Diagnostic Fund

• Washington State Department of Health – $210,000
  Komen Breast Cancer Screening and Diagnostic Program
  Funding to the Washington State Breast, Cervical, and Colon Health Program (BCCHP) will provide breast cancer screenings, lifesaving mammograms and diagnostic services to nearly 4,000 low-income women living in our region.

2016-17 Local Grant Recipients – Community Health Disparities Fund

• Franciscan Foundation – $50,232
  Breast Cancer Navigator Program 
  This funding will improve education and access to screening, diagnosis and treatment for Asian, Pacific Islander and Hispanic women in Tacoma/Pierce County through culturally appropriate education, outreach and patient navigation.

• International Community Health Services – $61,900
  Breast Health Outreach, Prevention and Education Program 
  This funding will provide breast health outreach, education and screening to low-income, limited English-speaking Chinese, Filipina, Korean, Mien, Samoan and other Pacific Islander, Asian Indian and Vietnamese women in Seattle/King County.

• South Puget Intertribal Planning Agency – $80,000
  Native Women’s Wellness Program
  This program provides breast health outreach, education, screening and support to women in rural tribal communities in Southwest Washington who rarely or never have been screened for breast cancer.

• Northwest Leadership Foundation – $60,000
  Outreach Demonstration Project
  The Outreach Demonstration Project (ODP) led by the Tacoma-Pierce County coalition Leaders in Women’s Health is a pilot project designed to provide early breast cancer outreach, education, screening and referral to appropriate services for 360 African-American women.

• Lutheran Community Services NW: Familias Unidas – $47,378
  Nuestra Salud
  The goal of Nuestra Salud is for every Latina in Snohomish County to have the best possible information about breast cancer and breast health in order to increase the number of women who receive early screenings, seek appropriate treatment and engage in preventative care.

• Mason General Hospital – $99,581
  Culturally Competent Breast Health Patient Navigator Program for Underserved Women
  This funding, made possible by a special grant from Komen National/Walgreens, will provide breast cancer patient navigation and support services – from the point of an abnormal finding through the completion of treatment – to low-income, Latinas, Native American and women living in remote rural areas of Mason County.

2016-17 Local Grant Recipient – Komen Patient Assistance Fund

• Cancer Lifeline – $175,000
  Cancer Lifeline administers Komen Puget Sound funds to provide financial assistance and support for low-income patients while they are in treatment for breast cancer.

In 23 years, Komen Puget Sound has invested more than $30 million in local nonprofit, tribal and government agencies that provide breast health and breast cancer services to residents living in our 16-county service area.

Seventy-five percent of net funds raised through Komen Puget Sound and its events (including Race for the Cure this June 5) provide essential services such as free mammograms, patient navigation and breast cancer treatment support to those in need, as well as outreach and education. The remaining 25 percent funds breast cancer research.

* This amount includes $10,000 for Small Grants funding and $99,581 through a special Walgreens fund from Komen National for patient navigation.