The Kay Yow Cancer Fund is proud to announce its most recent underserved grant in a check presentation to Upstate Cancer Center in Syracuse. The $50,000 grant was awarded to the She Matters program, in conjunction with the Upstate Foundation, and will be used to support their peer-to-peer community outreach program, aimed at reducing breast cancer disparities in low-income communities, particularly among Black and Latino women, in public housing.

“The Kay Yow Cancer Fund has been committed to fulfilling Coach Kay Yow’s vision of providing quality cancer healthcare for underserved women since 2007. This grant is an extension of that vision and will undoubtedly impact the lives of many women,” said Kay Yow Cancer Fund, SVP Programming, Jenny Palmateer.

She Matters is a peer-to-peer community outreach program of the Upstate Cancer Center to reduce breast cancer disparities in low-income, primarily Black and Latino women living in public housing in Syracuse. Working in partnership with the Syracuse Housing Authority, residents are recruited to serve as specially-trained community health workers (CHWs). CHWs provide breast health education, offer support from navigation to screening mammography, and improve access to necessary diagnostic and treatment services. The goal is to eliminate healthcare barriers, change behavior and make annual breast cancer screening a priority. Since its establishment in 2014, She Matters has reached over 3,500 women of all ages and facilitated screening in over 650 women ages 40 and above.

“We are pleased to receive this important funding from the Kay Yow Cancer Fund to strengthen and expand our cancer prevention work in our at-risk communities,” said Linda Veit, MPH, Upstate assistant vice president of community relations and founder of She Matters. “The Kay Yow Cancer Fund, like Upstate Medical University, believes in the power of education, so women can take control of their health and create positive, lasting behavior change regarding breast cancer prevention and screening.”

About the Kay Yow Cancer Fund
The Kay Yow Cancer Fund was officially founded on December 3, 2007, from the vision of the organization’s namesake, Kay Yow, former NC State University head women’s basketball coach. Coach Yow was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1987 before succumbing to the disease on January 24, 2009. The Kay Yow Cancer Fund is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization committed to being a part of finding an answer in the fight against ALL cancers affecting women through raising money for scientific research, assisting the underserved, and unifying people for a common cause. To date, the Kay Yow Cancer Fund has awarded $8.1 million in the fight against ALL cancers affecting women. For more information on the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, or to donate, please visit KayYow.com.

 

Caption: Representatives from the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, Syracuse Housing Authority, Upstate Medical University, are on hand to receive the $50,000 grant for Upstate's She Matters program.