Franciscan Health Breast Cancer Programs Receive Indiana Grants

MISHAWAKA, Indiana - The Indiana Breast Cancer Awareness Trust has awarded $59,380 in grants to support Franciscan Alliance programs that provide screenings and post-diagnostic services. The grants assist lower-income, medically underserved Hoosier women who have had a breast cancer diagnosis, with food, transportation, rent and utilities.

• A $24,880 grant will go to providing breast cancer screenings for women whose household income is at or below 300 percent of the federal poverty level and lack sufficient insurance. Enrollment and screenings for this program are available at Franciscan Health Michigan City, Franciscan Health Women's Center Chesterton, Franciscan Health Cancer Center Munster and Franciscan Health Breast Care Center Crown Point. Enrollment is also available at Franciscan Health Catherine McAuley Clinic Hammond.
• A $15,000 grant will go toward support post-diagnosis support services at Franciscan Health Michigan City and at Franciscan Health Women's Center Chesterton for women whose household income is at or below 350 percent of the federal poverty level.
• A $12,000 grant will go toward post-diagnostic support services at Franciscan Health Cancer Center Indianapolis or at Franciscan Health Cancer Center Mooresville for women whose household income is at or below 350 percent of the federal poverty level.
• A $7,500 grant will go toward post-diagnosis support services in Lake County for women whose household income is at or below 350 percent of the federal poverty level. Support services are available at Franciscan Health Cancer Center Munster, Franciscan Health Breast Care Center Crown Point and Franciscan Health Catherine McAuley Clinic Hammond.

Since the Breast Cancer Awareness special group recognition license plate was first made available in 2002, more than $4.4 million has been distributed by the Indiana Breast Cancer Awareness Trust (IBCAT) through competitively awarded grants to organizations throughout Indiana for innovative projects for breast cancer screening, diagnostic and support services not otherwise available to medically underserved populations in Indiana. In addition, over $50,000 has been awarded in scholarships to incoming and current college students who have lost a parent or who have a parent currently battling the disease.

The mission of the Indiana Breast Cancer Awareness Trust, Inc. is to increase awareness and improve access to breast cancer screening, diagnosis and support services throughout Indiana. Indiana residents may purchase an Indiana breast cancer awareness special group recognition license plate by visiting any BMV license branch or online at myBMV.com. For an annual $40 fee, $25 of which is a direct tax-deductible donation (to the extent of the law).

The Indiana Breast Cancer Awareness license plate was the brain-child of the late Nancy Jaynes, a Plymouth High School family and consumer sciences teacher. Nancy lost her battle with breast cancer in March 2008. Her vision that the license plate be a traveling billboard and reminder about the importance of early detection of breast cancer is alive and making a difference to thousands of Hoosiers.

For more information on the Indiana Breast Cancer Awareness Trust and the programs it funds, please visit www.breastcancerplate.org or call (866) 724-2228.