Pennsylvania First Lady Kathy Schweiker Announces Breast and Cervical Cancer Research Grants

Ultima Vez Modificado: 2 de abril del 2002

University of Pennsylvania Cancer Center to Host Event for Pennsylvania's State Income Tax Check-Off for Breast and Cervical Cancer Research

(Ephrata, PA) First Lady Kathy Schweiker, Honorary Chair of the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition (PBCC), will hold a press Conference at the University of Pennsylvania Biomedical Research Building, University of Pennsylvania Campus, Civic Center Boulevard and Osler Drive, 14th Floor, on Wednesday, April 3, 2002, at 11:30 A.M.

The First Lady is awarding the research grants from Pennsylvania's state income tax check-off for Breast and Cervical Cancer Research. Featured speakers joining Mrs. Schweiker include Pat Halpin-Murphy, PBCC President and Founder; John Glick, M.D., Director of the University of Pennsylvania Cancer Center; and Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Robert S. Zimmerman, Jr. At 11:00 AM, prior to the press conference, Mrs. Schweiker will tour a research laboratory at the Biomedical Research Building.

Landmark legislation initiated by the PBCC in 1997 established the Breast and Cervical Cancer Research Fund, which allows Pennsylvania taxpayers to donate all or part of their state tax refund to research. The average tax refund donation is $8.00. To date, nearly $1 million has been raised.

Mrs. Schweiker said, "The Income Tax Check-Off for Breast and Cervical Cancer Research is a wonderful opportunity to make a real difference in the fight against cancer by donating all or a portion of your state income tax refund to Pennsylvania's research efforts.It is especially important to note that all of the money goes to Pennsylvania-based researchers, working for the women and families of the Commonwealth to find a cure for breast and cervical cancer."

PBCC President and Founder Pat Halpin-Murphy, a breast cancer survivor, said, "Every single penny of the money raised is awarded to researchers across the state. The PBCC is a force for women and their families and the incredible success of this simple and effective way to raise research dollars renews our commitment to find a cure for breast and cervical cancer now...so our daughters won't have to." Halpin-Murphy chairs the Pennsylvania Department of Health's Cancer Control, Prevention and Research Advisory Board's Income Tax Check-Off Committee which recommends how the refund donations should be distributed.

Mrs. Schweiker will join Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Robert Zimmerman to announce the names of this year's grant recipients at the press conference.

Private donations also can be made to the research fund. To make private donations to the income tax check-off for breast and cervical cancer research, checks should be written to the Breast and Cervical Cancer Research Fund and sent to the following address: Department of Health, Bureau of Financial and Administrative Services, P.O. Box 90, Health and Welfare Building, Harrisburg, PA 17108.

The PBCC, founded in 1993, is a non-profit organization dedicated to ending the breast cancer epidemic through research, education, outreach and advocacy. As the only statewide grassroots organization that speaks to and for breast cancer survivors, the PBCC insured the passage of two crucial pieces of Commonwealth legislation:

• The Breast and Cervical Cancer Research Act, which allows taxpayers to donate all or part of their state income tax refunds to breast and cervical cancer research; and
• The Breast Cancer Reconstructive Surgery Act, which mandates insurance coverage for post-mastectomy breast reconstruction and prohibits outpatient mastectomies.

The PBCC serves each of the Commonwealth's 67 counties through the Income Tax Check-Off, Mother's Day Mammograms^®, the Keystone Breast Cancer Conference, and the photo exhibit, "67 Women, 67 Counties: Facing Breast Cancer in Pennsylvania."

For more information about the PBCC visit our website at www.pabreastcancer.org or all 717/738-9567 or toll free 1-800-377-8828.

PENN Medicine Contact:
Olivia Fermano
215.349.5653

PBCC Contact:
Bonnie Squires
610.649.0998

Commonwealth of PA Contact:
Carol Burkholder
717.738.9535