Mary’s Center Receives Grant from the American Cancer Society and the National Football League to Fight Breast Cancer in Washington DC

Washington, DC, October 21, 2016 --(PR.com)-- 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 Mary’s Center to continue efforts to provide education, outreach and navigation, and help individuals access breast cancer screenings in Washington, DC.

Washington, DC 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. Thanks to this financial support, Mary’s Center will continue to reach out to women to educate them about reducing their risk of breast cancer and guide them to low- or no-cost breast cancer screening resources.

“Early detection is vital, and this generous grant from the NFL and the American Cancer Society will help Mary’s Center educate more low-income women about the need for screening and where they can get screened. They will be empowered to take charge of their own health and to help other women in their families and communities,” says Maria Gomez, President/CEO of Mary’s Center.

The grant also will be used to support “A Crucial Catch Day,” a community health event on Tuesday, October 25, in Washington, DC. The event will be held at Mary’s Center’s Petworth location, at 3912 Georgia Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20011, from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. Activities will include a nutrition demo and tasting; physical and emotional wellbeing workshops to learn how lifestyle can reduce the risk of disease; an “I Fight Breast Cancer” photo booth for social media; and information on how to access health insurance & screening exams.

Disparities predominantly arise from inequities in work, wealth, income, education, housing, and overall standard of living, as well as social barriers to high-quality cancer prevention, early detection and treatment services. The Society collaborates with community health system partners to reach individuals in communities with higher burdens of cancer and limited access to cancer screening.

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.

About Mary’s Center
Founded in 1988, Mary’s Center is a federally qualified health center that provides health care, educational and social services to more than 36,000 individuals from over 100 countries. Using a holistic, multipronged approach, Mary’s Center helps each participant access individualized services that set them on the path toward good health, stable families, and economic independence.

About The American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society is a global grassroots force of 2 million volunteers saving lives in every community. As the largest voluntary health organization, the Society's efforts have contributed to a 23 percent decline in cancer death rates in the U.S. since 1991, and a 50 percent drop in smoking rates. The ACS is finding cures as the nation's largest private, not-for-profit investor in cancer research, ensuring people facing cancer have the help they need and continuing the fight for access to quality health care, lifesaving screenings and more.