Kelly Price Joins Los Angeles County Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure in the Fight Against Breast Cancer

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Susan G. Komen for the Cure® Los Angeles County Affiliate, part of the world's largest breast cancer advocacy organization, is proud to announce a partnership with Grammy Award nominated recording artist and long-time breast cancer awareness advocate, Kelly Price.  Susan G. Komen for the Cure® is the world's leader in breast cancer research, awareness, and education.

The Los Angeles County Affiliate has raised more than $8.9 to fund breast cancer programs and research in the last 15 years, which have gone to provide the medically underserved and uninsured populations in Los Angeles County with screening, diagnostic tests and treatments for breast cancer.

Like thousands of women in the United States, Kelly Price was personally touched by breast cancer when both her mother and mother in law were diagnosed within two months of each other with the disease.  Kelly said, "My husband and I have known each other and been friends since we were 13 years old, so when both my mom and mother in law were diagnosed with breast cancer, it felt like an all-out attack on my family.  The news came at the beginning of my career when I was about to launch my very first album.  At a time when my family and I would have otherwise been celebrating, we were gripped with fear and uncertainty.  After a long hard fight, my mom survived breast cancer and my beloved mother in law succumbed to the disease.  This was a turning point in my life.   For eight years now, I have been an advocate for breast cancer awareness and early detection and now I am proud to join forces with the LA County Affiliate of Susan G.  Komen for the Cure® in its mission to pursue a world without breast cancer."

Price will support Komen's efforts by becoming an Official Ambassador for the Circle of Promise initiative.  The Circle of Promise movement is designed to engage African American women to help end breast cancer forever by fostering increased awareness, support, empowerment and action.  The program works by (1) Mobilizing the community to ensure that women everywhere have access to the care they need; (2) Empowering women to make a promise to reclaim their lives, their health and to be strong advocates in their communities and (3) Dispelling myths in the African American community that prevent women from getting early treatment for breast cancer.

As a Komen partner, Price will also lend her talent and influence as spokesperson in public service announcements and participant in signature high level and grass roots awareness campaigns.  Susan G. Komen for the Cure® LA County Affiliate Executive Director, Deb Anthony said, "We are excited to welcome Kelly Price as a spokesperson for our organization and ambassador for our Circle of Promise program.  She is such a highly respected and well-loved artist and her passion and commitment is unparalleled.  We are grateful to Kelly for embracing this cause and are confident that many lives will be saved as a result."

Because of its local grassroots organizational structure, Susan G. Komen for the Cure®  is the only breast cancer organization where 75% of funds raised stays in our community, going directly to local services and resources for Los Angeles County residents through community grants.  The remaining 25% of the funds raised goes directly to national research, a significant portion of which ends up coming back to Los Angeles because of its nationally recognized research institutions.

About Susan G. Komen for the Cure® Los Angeles County Affiliate

Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, that she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever.  In 1982 that promise became Susan G. Komen for the Cure® and launched the global breast cancer movement. Today, the organization is the world's largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cure.  Susan G. Komen for the Cure® has invested more than $1.5 billion to fulfill our promise, becoming the largest non-profit funder of breast cancer research in the world.  The Susan G. Komen for the Cure® Los Angeles County Affiliate has distributed more than $8.9 million to fund breast cancer programs and research since 1996, which have gone to provide the medically underserved and uninsured populations in Los Angeles County with screening, diagnostic tests and treatments for breast cancer.  For more information about the Susan G. Komen for the Cure® Los Angeles County Affiliate, visit www.komenlacounty.org or call 310-575-3011.  

About Kelly Price

The second of three daughters, Kelly Price was raised in Queens, New York .  A musician's musician, Kelly Price is multi-talented vocalist and writer whose music goes platinum often.   Along her journey, she's collaborated with the likes of Mariah Carey, George Michael, Elton John, The Isley Brothers, Brian McKnight, Sean Diddy Combs, Whitney Houston, Donnie McClurkin, Eric Clapton, Shirley Murdock and the late James Brown.   In 1998, her debut release "Soul of a Woman" went double-platinum.  Recently, her single "Tired", received a 2011 GRAMMY® nomination in the Best Female R&B Vocal Performance category.  In addition to her musical impact, Kelly Price's philanthropic efforts have played an integral role in her life. Her commitment to the fight against breast cancer has been paramount.  After learning that within two months of each other that both her mother and mother-in-law were diagnosed with the disease, it turned her world upside down and she vowed to actively support the fight and raise awareness.   She took action when she co-wrote the song "Love Sets You Free", with Denise Rich and Teddy Riley.  The duet with Aaron Hall was originally featured on the motion picture soundtrack for The Hurricane (1999), and was later remixed featuring several other Def Jam/Def Soul artists, with all of the proceeds being donated to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure®.   Additional proceeds went to Denise Rich's Gabrielle's Angel Foundation for Cancer Research, which was named after her late daughter. Within six months of the commercial release, the song raised over $250K, which was donated to both foundations and continues to do so today.

SOURCE Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Los Angeles County Affiliate