GEORGIA CORE BREAST CANCER LICENSE TAGS

Angie Patterson, Vice President of Georgia CORE and a 16 year breast cancer survivor, discusses Georgia’s Breast Cancer License Tag Program, which Supports Breast Cancer Education and Screening for the Underserved in Georgia.

* Georgia’s Breast Cancer License Tag program began in 2003

* By purchasing this special license plate, Georgians can help underserved women obtain breast cancer education, screening and treatment * 85% of those served are ethnic minorities- The disparity between breast cancer death rates for black and white women in Atlanta is greater than in any other major U.S. city

* 6 counties in South Georgia have a high incidence of breast cancer than the national average

* About 7,000 Georgia women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year; about 1,200 women in Georgia will die from breast cancer.

* The chances for survival are significantly better when cancer is diagnosed and treated in its earliest stages.

* Each tag purchased contributes $22 into the BCLT fund.

* Georgia CORE administers the program and has witnessed an alarming drop in revenue over the years.

* One of the 6 awards for $50,000 given this year was to the YWCA for their ENCOREplus program. They target DeKalb County and the Atlanta Empowerment zone in Fulton County where women are identified as being in great need of healthcare assistance

Georgia’s Breast Cancer License Tag Fund Awards $300,000 to statewide programs for uninsured

ATLANTA –Thanks to citizens purchasing Georgia’s Breast Cancer License Tags (BCLT), six organizations across the state have been awarded grants totaling $300,000, for breast cancer education and screening, and treatment for underserved Georgians. Twenty-two dollars ($22) of each tag purchased or thirty-five ($35) of each tag renewed funds the $300,000 in awards, administered by the Georgia Center for Oncology Research and Education (Georgia CORE) on behalf of the State Office of Rural Health in the Department of Community Health.

Awardees across the state include:

* Albany: Horizons Community Solutions

* Athens: The East Georgia Cancer Coalition

* Atlanta: The Center for Black Women’s Wellness; YWCA of Greater Atlanta

* Columbus: The West Central Georgia Cancer Coalition

* Vidalia: Meadows Regional Medical Center

“While Georgia has increased breast cancer screening rates, not all women – particularly those without health insurance – receive appropriate screening or treatment,” says Angie Patterson, Vice President of Georgia CORE and a 16-year breast cancer survivor. “The work this grant money supports will help identify breast cancer at an earlier stage, making treatment more effective.”

For information on the Georgia BCLT program, go to georgiacancerinfo.org/breastcancertag or to purchase a BCLT click here.

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The State Office of Rural Health (SORH), a part of the Department of Community Health, works to improve access to health care in rural and underserved areas and to reduce health status disparities. SORH provides funding for institutional framework that links small rural communities with State and Federal resources to help develop long-term solutions to rural health problems.