More than 150 individuals will join Susan G. Komen San Diego (Komen San Diego) to honor outstanding partners in the community, volunteers and will award grants to local organizations providing breast cancer services at the annual Suzy Awards ceremony on Wednesday, May 11 from 7:45 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at the Hornblower – Dockside.
Komen San Diego will also announce and celebrate $1.1 million raised to fund free breast cancer services and research from 2016 through 2017 to their non-profit and research partners here locally.
“The Suzy Awards” will honor outstanding partners whose efforts have helped in the fight against breast cancer. Honorees include:
Excellence in Third Party Event – Kickin’ It Challenge,
Pam Bickel, president; Beatrice Cubitt, vice president; Bj Kelly, auction chair; Susan Filippone, auction co-chair; Christine Drummond, webmaster; and Toni DeCarlo, tournament director
Non Board Fundraiser and Donor – Kevin Munnelly
Top Individual and Team Fundraiser – Christine Trimble, vice president government affairs, Qualcomm, Komen San Diego Board of Directors
Heroes – John P. Lethin, imaging director, La Mesa Community Health Centers
Volunteer – Wendy Cerda, Special Ed classroom assistance, team captain and co-survivor
Komen San Diego provides the community with the following breast health services through grants to organizations to increase access to early detection and quality treatment: food assistance, transportation assistance, care coordination, cancer diagnostics, education, patient navigation and research. With over 1.1 million being granted in 2016, Komen San Diego continues to be the County’s largest funder of free breast cancer services and research and is the only organization providing qualified women the free services they need for every step of the breast cancer journey.
The following organizations will be awarded grants:
2-1-1 San Diego – Care Coordination.
2-1-1 San Diego connects women throughout San Diego County to breast health resources and medical care. 2-1-1 ensures medically-underserved women are educated about the importance of early detection and receive regular screenings and follow-up care.
Health Quality Partners of Southern California – Access to Diagnostics and Co-Pay Services
For those whose breast screening tests reveals something abnormal, a follow-up test known as a “diagnostic service,” is needed. Health Quality Partners covers the cost of diagnostic mammograms, surgical consultations, breast biopsies, ultrasounds and ancillary services for San Diegans under the age of 40 and for those who don’t qualify for the state program, Every Women Counts.
Community Health Imaging – Mobile Mammography
Community Health Imaging provides a mobile mammography coach to reach women in San Diego County.
Jewish Family Service of San Diego – Care Coordination, Patient Financial Aid and Transportation
Jewish Family Service of San Diego provides an Intensive Case Management program for breast cancer patients county-wide with a focus on minority or low-income patients, including those with limited English proficiency. In addition, the organization provides a program that evaluates patients’ circumstances and provides resources to breast cancer patients to stabilize crises, provide referrals, advocacy, transportation, emergency food and/or temporary financial assistance if needed and as appropriate.
Mama’s Kitchen – Support Mama’s Kitchen provides a meal delivery service for eligible individuals affected by breast cancer. This service provides 100 percent of the nutrition patients need to gain or maintain essential weight, strengthen their immune systems and properly metabolize breast cancer medications.
San Ysidro Health Center – Education
San Ysidro Health Center provides a comprehensive breast health screening and referral program with an emphasis on Latinas and African Americans in San Diego County’s South Bay and Southeast communities.
Scripps O’Toole Breast Care Center – Patient Navigation
The Scripps Mercy O’Toole Breast Care Center provides breast care services to the Central San Diego area and a comprehensive approach to the continuum of care through this Patient Navigation Program. The Patient Care Navigator provides one-on-one and group patient support using education, referrals, resources and care plans to ensure access to the continuum of care.
Vista Community Clinic – Education, Patient Navigation
Vista Community Clinic provides patient navigation and education services for breast cancer patients throughout Northern San Diego County. The goal is to reduce breast cancer mortality rates by ensuring women who have a suspicious mammogram get diagnosed and into a treatment program within 90-120 days. That timeframe is important because it takes the most common kind of breast cancer that long to progress to the next stage—and the later stages are worse prognoses.
