Local Komen affiliate to host grants workshop

THE WOODLANDS, Texas -- The Montgomery County Advisory Council of the Houston Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure® has announced a Grants Workshop to apply for grant funding for 2012-2013 at Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Hospital on August 23.

The Komen Houston Affiliate recently announced the availability of grant funding for 2012-2013 to increase breast cancer education, screening, treatment and support services in Southeast Texas and the grants training workshop is designed to help interested organizations apply for funding.

“The Montgomery County Advisory Council is excited to host a Grants Training Workshop again this year, and we invite all organizations in our community that provide breast health services to attend the workshop, which is a pre-requisite to apply for Komen Houston grant funding,” said Laurie Sapp, chair of the Komen Montgomery County Advisory Council. “We hope that this process will generate more collaborative projects and grant funding, leading to a greater ability to help more people affected by breast cancer in our community.”

In 2009 and 2010, the Houston Affiliate was ranked number one among 122 national Komen affiliates for granting the most funds to the local community. In 2011, Komen Houston continued its commitment to granting the most money possible by awarding $3.27 million to 22 community organizations and announced that for the first time, every county in its seven county service area is being funded. This money provides services such as breast cancer screening, educational outreach, treatment and support projects for the medically underserved and uninsured.

Since its inception, the Komen Houston Affiliate Grants Program has granted more than $25 million in its seven county service area which includes Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty and Montgomery Counties. The Affiliate’s strict granting process ensures the impartial allocation of funds to qualified 501c3 organizations helping countless breast cancer survivors and their families, receive the treatment and support they need.

The granting process for the 2012-2013 year begins August 1, 2011 and ends November 10, 2011. In order to apply for funding, an organization representative must attend a Grants Writing Workshop, which are scheduled to be held on August 19 and 23 in the Houston area.

Currently, the Komen Houston Affiliate is seeking to fund organizations to meet or fulfill the following priority areas:

- Increase breast cancer education and reduce cultural barrier for underserved, minority and high risk populations

- Increase education about risk assessment, screening options and screening recommendations to providers and women at greater risk of developing breast cancer before age 40

- Increase patient navigation services from initial screening to treatment

- Increase knowledge about community resources by developing a patient navigator’s network for navigators employed in breast health services

- Increase access and quality of care of breast cancer screening, diagnostic and treatment services to underserved and uninsured women, especially in rural areas

- Increase quality of and access to follow-up medical care, support services, transportation services, and end of life care for underserved and uninsured breast cancer patients

- Increase education related to breast cancer clinical trials for underserved and minority women

To obtain the Request for Application and more information about the granting process, please visit the link below.