Charlotte, N.C. Jan. 5, 2016 – Novant Health and Susan G. Komen Charlotte have been awarded a joint $200,000 grant over two years from Wells Fargo to fund breast health initiatives targeting underinsured and uninsured women in Mecklenburg and surrounding counties. Novant Health, Wells Fargo and Komen Charlotte are partnering through this grant to improve health literacy and education around the roles of genetics and cancer risk, as well as providing services to underserved populations including patient navigation, genetic counseling, genetic testing and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
“This Wells Fargo grant is a generous gift to us and the women in our community,” said John Stillerman, vice president of Novant Health Cancer Care. “There is tremendous need to reach certain racial and ethnic populations in the Charlotte area who may face disparities in seeking breast health care, and this grant will allow us this opportunity.”
Throughout the next year, the grant will be used to create evidence-based educational material on genetics and breast cancer risks, as well as fund patient navigation and MRI screening for women who are medically underserved. The written material, to include brochures, leaflets and web-based educational information, will be translated into different languages and will be distributed at community events, primary care offices, houses of worship, breast imaging centers and on the Novant Health mobile mammography coach.
In addition to written educational material, a series of short videos will be produced focused on the role that gene mutations and heredity play in determining risk for breast cancer.
“We know that health literacy plays a major role in an individual’s ability to understand complex concepts such as breast cancer risk reduction,” said Tami Simmons, Executive Director of Susan G. Komen Charlotte. “Through this collaboration, we hope to continue educate the public in an effort to reduce late-stage breast cancer diagnosis by creating and disseminating in-depth information about breast cancer, breast cancer risk, screening options and knowing when to seek breast care.”
"Wells Fargo provided funding for this collaborative effort between Susan G. Komen Charlotte and Novant given their understanding of the potential preventative and proactive aspects that this new testing offers for people with breast cancer risk,” said Jay Everette, Community Affairs Manager, Wells Fargo Foundation. “We helped to craft a Foundation grant that addresses critical education and access to screening for those with financial need. We are excited to see how this new information and testing access can reduce the risk of breast cancer in the Charlotte region."
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