Susan G. Komen for the Cure(R) Honors Its Seven California Affiliates With State Policy Campaign of the Year Award

SAN DIEGO, March 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Susan G. Komen for the Cure® awarded its seven California Affiliates with the State Policy of the Year Award for their advocacy to ensure access to breast cancer screening and treatment in the face of significant state budget cuts.

The State Policy Campaign of the Year Award is presented to a Komen Affiliate or Affiliates who advanced breast health issues and brought positive changes through their public policy initiatives at the state level. Seven Komen California Affiliates formed the California Affiliate Collaborative to work with one voice on breast cancer issues in California.

In 2009, the group supported three bills to expand access to breast health services for underserved women in California. The group protested cuts to "Every Woman Counts," California's program to provide free mammography screenings for uninsured and underinsured women who do not qualify for Medicaid, including the elimination of eligibility for women age 40-49. Together, the seven Affiliates have been a vital voice for Komen and women in need across the state.

The Collaborative works to build community coalitions, enlist online advocates, gather petition signatures and pay visits to their legislators.

The members of the California Affiliate Collaborative are Komen Central Valley Affiliate in Fresno, Komen Inland Empire Affiliate in Temecula, Komen Los Angeles County Affiliate, Komen Orange County Affiliate in Costa Mesa, Komen Sacramento Valley Affiliate, Komen San Diego Affiliate and Komen San Francisco Bay Affiliate.

On site to accept the award on behalf of the Collaborative was Donna Sanderson, executive director for Komen Sacramento Valley and founder of the California Collaborative. The award was presented at the Komen for the Cure's annual Affiliate Leadership Conference, Mar. 18-20 in Dallas.

"With recent budget cuts to important programs like Every Woman Counts, it is more important than ever to continue our fight in state capitals across the country," said Laura Farmer Sherman, survivor and executive director of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, San Diego. "These women deserve a chance at survival, and we will continue to work with the California Affiliate Collaborative and members of our community to help as many people as we can in San Diego County."

Komen for the Cure is the world's largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and advocates fighting to save lives and end breast cancer forever.

About Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, San Diego

Since its inception in 1995, more than $8.5 million has been given to local organizations that provide breast cancer education, screening, diagnostics, treatment and patient support for the uninsured or underinsured in San Diego County.  Seventy-five percent of every dollar raised stays right here in San Diego County to cover every step in the breast cancer journey -- from education, outreach, mammograms and diagnostics to surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation and material and financial support.  The remaining 25 percent funds international breast cancer research.  In fact, next to the U.S. government, Susan G. Komen for the Cure is the largest funder of breast cancer research in the world. For more information, please visit www.komensandiego.org.

About Susan G. Komen for the Cure®

Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, 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, Komen for the Cure 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 cures. Thanks to events like the Komen Race for the Cure, we have invested nearly $1.5 billion to fulfill our promise, becoming the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world. For more information about Susan G. Komen for the Cure, breast health or breast cancer, visit komen.org or call 1-877 GO KOMEN.

SOURCE Susan G. Komen for the Cure