Komen KC gives more grants than ever

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The local affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure has granted nearly $1 million to 20 programs that will provide thousands of area residents with vital breast-health education, screening and treatment throughout the next year.

Community Outreach Manager Theresa Osenbaugh said the $925,000-plus worth of grants was the most Komen KC has awarded during a single grant cycle in its 18-year history. The annual grant cycle began April 1 and concludes on March 31, 2013.

Representatives of agencies that receive Komen grants got together Friday for an “impact tour.” The entities included Samuel U. Rodgers Health Center, Truman Medical Center, the University of Kansas Medical Center, YMCA of Greater Kansas City, St. Luke's Cancer Institute, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and Cancer Action.

A Komen grant funded the mobile mammography unit at St. Luke's Cancer Institute. This year the unit will provide 1,500 free mammograms throughout Kansas City.

"We really need women to take that action and get screened and to tell the other women in their life to take action and get screened ... and the men to tell the women in their lives to take action and get screened," Lori Maris, executive director of Komen KC, said.