Contact: Mary Lawson, University of Minnesota Cancer Center, 612-624-6165
Korie Morgan, Hope Chest for Breast Cancer, 952-471-8700
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HOPE CHEST FOR BREAST CANCER AWARDS GRANT FOR HELPING
LOWER-INCOME WOMEN DIAGNOSED WITH BREAST CANCER
MINNEAPOLIS/ST.PAUL (February 13, 2007) --- A $50,000 grant from Twin Cities-based Hope Chest for Breast Cancer will enable the University of Minnesota Cancer Center to continue to provide financial assistance to underserved women diagnosed with breast cancer.
This is the second grant awarded by Hope Chest for Breast Cancer to the University’s Cancer Center. It will be used to provide assistance with basic living expenses that lower-income women undergoing treatment for breast cancer may have difficulty handling, such as costs for groceries, utilities, rent, medications, and day care.
“We are thrilled to continue our partnership with the Cancer Center and hope this second disbursement to the University can continue to really help those with breast cancer that need our additional financial assistance,” said Barbara Hensley, founder and board chair of Hope Chest for Breast Cancer.
Hensley lost her mother to lung cancer and her two sisters to breast cancer. In 2005, the Hope Chest granted $100,000 to the University of Minnesota Cancer Center to provide financial assistance and to support an outreach education program on the importance of early detection for women who have recently immigrated to the Twin Cities region. The Hope Chest raises funds through special events and the sale of donated, upscale furniture, accessories and designer women’s clothing. The merchandise is donated by retail stores, manufacturers and individuals, then sold through their two retail stores in Orono/Navarre and St. Paul.
Susan Pappas-Varco, coordinator of the Breast Cancer Program at University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview, will manage this newest financial assistance grant. Requests for financial assistance need to be made by the patient’s healthcare provider to Pappas-Varco.
About Hope Chest for Breast Cancer
Founded in 2001, Hope Chest for Breast Cancer provides funds to the underserved families touched by breast cancer, for early detection education and treatment programs, for hospice care for people battling the disease and for research. Hope Chest raises crucial resources through the sale of upscale furniture, accessories and designer clothing donated by individuals, corporations and small businesses at the Hope Chest for Breast Cancer Retail Shops. Hope Chest’s goal is to raise $10 million annually by opening 50 Hope Chest franchised shops nationwide within the next five years. The Twin Cities Hope Chest retail stores are located at 3850 Shoreline Drive in the Orono/Navarre area (952-471-8700) and 571 Snelling N. (651-642-2850) in St. Paul. The stores are open: MTWF: 10-6; TH 10-7; Sat: 10-5; Sun: 11:30-5. The stores are registered with the State of Minnesota as professional fundraisers. More information may be found at www.hopechest.us.
About the University of Minnesota Cancer Center
The University of Minnesota Cancer Center is designated as a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute. The Cancer Center conducts research that advances knowledge about cancer and enhances treatment for patients. The Cancer Center also engages in community education efforts to provide information about cancer. For more information about the University of Minnesota Cancer Center and cancer, call the information line at 612-624-2620 or toll-free in IA, MN, ND, SD, and WI at 1-888-CANCER MN (1-888-226-2376), and visit www.cancer.umn.edu .
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