April 2, 2002
Pennsylvania First Lady Kathy Schweiker
Announces Breast and Cervical Cancer Research Grants
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.
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.
# # #
|
