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How is the PBCC different
from other cancer organizations?
The Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition has
been the voice for breast cancer survivors
in PA for over 10 years. Our focus is solely
breast cancer, and solely Pennsylvania. We
hold events and educate Pennsylvanians in all
corners of the state. We operate with a small
staff of only 8 paid employees, so our overhead
costs are minimal, compared to those of larger
national cancer organizations. Approximately
83 cents of every dollar donated by individuals
like you goes directly toward our innovative and
award-winning programs with the goal of finding
a cure for breast cancer now...so our
daughters won't have to. return to top
Is the PBCC part
of a larger national organization?
The Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition is an
independent organization. We have working
relationships with other breast cancer
organizations, but are not formally affiliated
with them. return to top
Do you have chapters in other states?
There are other states which have their own
breast cancer organizations and coalitions, but
they are not affiliated with the Pennsylvania
Breast Cancer Coalition. return to top
Is the PBCC a government agency?
No. The PBCC is a 501(c)3 non-profit
organization. While we have relationships
with some legislators and government entities such
as the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the
Pennsylvania Department of Welfare, we are not a
government agency. return to top
Do you do research?
The PBCC is not a research facility. Our activities and programs are geared toward education, outreach,
advocacy and research. We support breast cancer research wholeheartedly through our Potamkin grant and the Income Tax Check-Off
research grants, which are all awarded to
Pennsylvania cancer researchers. return to top
Do you perform mammograms?
The PBCC is not a mammography or medical facility. We do not perform medical procedures, nor do we give medical advice. However, we do have relationships with many medical centers all across the Commonwealth, and advocate that women over age 40 get mammograms each year from an accredited facility. return to top
How many staff people does it take to do the statewide work that you do?
Believe it or not, there are only 8 paid staff members at the PBCC. This dedicated and hard-working staff organizes/coordinates several fundraisers each month, the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition Annual Conference with 10-12 workshops for approximately 900 attendees, and brings our traveling photo exhibit "67 Women - 67 Counties: Facing Breast Cancer in Pennsylvania™" to six communities across the state each year. While we have only 8 paid staff members, we also have a wonderful network of volunteers who help us spread the word about our work across Pennsylvania. To become one of our volunteers, fill out our online volunteer survey here. return to top
 Where does your funding
come from?
As you can see by this graph, approximately 46% of
our funding comes from state and federal government grants,
23% from
Grassroots Partners fundraisers, 20% from corporate donations
to our annual conference, and 11% from other sources
such as dividends and investments, marketplace
purchases, honor/memorial gifts, Community
Health Charities/CFC/SECA/United Way donations,
LBC store collections, and general donations. return to top
Where does my donation go?
 The PBCC is incorporated as a 501(c)3
in order to provide tax incentives to its contributors.
Better Business Bureau standards require charities
to spend at least 50 % of all contributions on
their stated causes. More than 80% of all donations
to the PBCC go toward providing breast cancer
education and
outreach. As you can see by this graph,
approximately 83% of donations goes toward our
award-winning programs: Friends
Like Me™, the Income Tax
Check-Off for Breast and Cervical Cancer Research,
the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer
Coalition Annual Conference, and our traveling photo
exhibit "67 Women - 67
Counties: Facing Breast Cancer in
Pennsylvania™". 11% of your donation
goes toward administrative costs such as salaries
for employees and office equipment. 6% goes
toward fundraising costs. return to top
To make a donation,
please click here.
Are donations to the PBCC tax-deductible?
Yes, however, it is important that the
following criteria be met:
- The individual donor must address his or her
check directly to the Pennsylvania Breast
Cancer Coalition. Donations of any kind
will be acknowledged in writing by the PBCC.
- The donation cannot be given for a
service. For example, the registration
fee for the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer
Coalition Annual Conference
is not considered a tax-deductible donation
because the donor is attending the conference,
thus is receiving a service for his or her
contribution. return to top
To make a donation,
please click here.
A friend/family member
who lives in Pennsylvania was recently diagnosed with breast cancer
(within the past 6 months). What can the PBCC do to help her?
One of the first things the PBCC would do is send her a Friends Like Me™ care package. Friends Like Me™ care packages have been carefully produced to address the needs of women newly-diagnosed with breast cancer. The materials are designed to support the new patient in a timely manner during those critical first few months when she is dealing with her diagnosis and making decisions about treatment options. Each box contains important and timely information about breast cancer treatment and support from a variety of organizations such as the National Cancer Institute, Cancer Information Service and the PBCC. In addition, each box includes a pink ribbon pin and various donated and complimentary gifts such as cosmetics, books, and personal care items. Of course, actual contents differ, depending on supply and demand. These packages cost the PBCC approximately $100 apiece, however, neither the recipient nor the person requesting the package pays a penny! If you have been recently diagnosed and would like to request a Friends Like Me™ care package for yourself or someone else, please click here. If you have any products you'd like to donate which would be appropriate to include in future Friends Like Me™ care packages or you'd like to sponsor one or more boxes with a donation of $100 apiece, please email Kim at kim@pabreastcancer.org.
In addition to providing educational resources and pick-me-up gifts, the PBCC provides a hand to hold and a shoulder to lean on during the difficult time of diagnosis and treatment. Should a woman feel the need to speak to someone, the PBCC can put her in touch with a survivor who has experienced this trying time and come through the other side. If she is having trouble with her insurance or employer, the PBCC has a Patient Advocate who specializes in such situations. In essence, the PBCC can help a newly-diagnosed woman feel that she's not alone. return to top
What do you do with all the money you get from the Income Tax Check-Off refunds?
It is a common misconception that the PBCC benefits financially from the Income Tax Check-Off refunds. The PBCC does not receive a penny from the Income Tax Check-Off program. In 1997, Governor Tom Ridge signed the PBCC's Income Tax Check-Off legislation allowing Pennsylvanians to donate their state tax refund to breast and cervical cancer research. So far, the program has raised
over $2 million. One hundred percent of the money is distributed as grants to outstanding researchers across the state. The Income Tax Check-Off for Breast and Cervical Cancer Research continues to be
a favorite among state taxpayers. Tens of thousands of Pennsylvanians donate their state tax refunds to breast and cervical cancer research, with an average donation of $8 per donor. return to top
I am interested in
organizing a fundraiser for the PBCC. Where
do I start?
Any individual or organization interested in
raising money for the PBCC should contact Sarah
Lightman at
sarah@pabreastcancer.org
and include a brief description of the nature of
the event, their contact information (name,
mailing address, phone number and email), and a
suggested timeframe in which they would like the
event to take place. Once that information
is received, a Community Fundraising Handbook will
be mailed to you for review, and our staff will be
in touch to coordinate the details. You
should know that, while we may publicize your
event on our website and in our newsletters, the
PBCC cannot build an audience for your event, sell
tickets to your event, nor find sponsors for your
event. Some community fundraising ideas are
listed below.
- Hold a Casual Day in your office, either
once or on a weekly or monthly basis, and
require employees to pay a small fee to
participate, which you donate to the PBCC.
- If you sell things or own a store of some
kind, designate a day, week, or month,
choosing one item or perhaps all pink items,
and give the PBCC a percentage of the profits
of the sale of those items during the
specified time period.
- Have a birthday, anniversary or holiday
party and ask guests to bring a donation to
the PBCC instead of gifts.
- If you are crafty, create specialty items
such as pink knitted scarves, pink ribbon
jewelry, or pink soaps and give the proceeds
of the sale of these items to the PBCC.
You could also create a large item such as a
quilt and sell raffle tickets.
- If you are a member of a musical group,
theater group, or chorus, hold a benefit
concert and donate the ticket money to the
PBCC.
- Be creative! There are infinite ways
you can help! What can you think of? return to top
I have no insurance. Where can I get a free mammogram?
In Pennsylvania, you may be eligible for the
Pennsylvania Department of Health's HealthyWoman Program. Women qualify to receive free breast and cervical cancer screening and diagnostic services, including mammograms, clinical breast exams, pelvic exams, and Pap tests if:
- they are 40 to 64 years old (or under 40 if they are symptomatic of breast or cervical cancer)
- they have no insurance, or limited insurance that does not cover breast and cervical cancer screening services, and
- they have low to moderate income (under 250% of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines).
For more information about the Pennsylvania
Department of Health's HealthyWoman Program or to see if you qualify, call 1-800-215-7494. return to top
Are all breast cancer treatments covered by insurance?
We understand that navigating the maze of insurance issues and questions can be confusing. That’s why the PBCC created the guidebook, Breast Cancer: Covered or Not?, answering many of your insurance questions, including what your insurance company is required to cover, and what is not covered.
For more information or to order a copy, click here. A cost of $5.00 plus tax
will apply. The PBCC will cover the cost
of shipping. return to top
My request for insurance for breast cancer treatment has been denied. Is there anything I can do?
We understand that navigating the maze of insurance issues and questions can be confusing. That’s why the PBCC created the guidebook, Breast Cancer: Covered or Not?, answering many of your insurance questions, including instructions about how to appeal insurance denials.
For more information or to order a copy, click here.
A cost of $5.00 plus tax will apply. The
PBCC will cover the cost of shipping. return to top
I’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer and have no insurance. What can I do?
In Pennsylvania, women of low or moderate income who are diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer or a pre-cancerous condition can get quality care and treatment, regardless of their lack of insurance, through the
Commonwealth of PA's
Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention and Treatment Program (BCCPT). return to top
Who is eligible for this treatment program?
To be eligible, you must be:
Diagnosed
with breast or cervical cancer or a
pre-cancerous condition of the breast or cervix
Under age 65
Uninsured or have
limited health care coverage
A resident of PA with a social security
number
return to top
Is there an income limit to be eligible for this program?
Yes. Your maximum annual family income must not exceed 250% of poverty level. For example, to qualify, the current maximum allowed income for a single person household is $27,075 and $36,435 for a two-person household. These income guidelines are updated annually. To see a chart for larger families, visit the
PA Department of Health's HealthyWoman
Program here:
www.pahealthywoman.com.
How do I apply for the free breast cancer
treatment program?
There is a short,
three-step process to enroll in the Commonwealth
of PA's Breast &
Cervical Cancer Prevention Treatment Program.
You must:
1. Fill out the PA600B, Part A
application form which can be found
here.
2. The doctor who
told you that you have cancer must fill out
PA600 Part B - Medicaid Eligibility application
which can be found
here.
3. Your doctor must
fax both forms to the HWP Case Management Team
at (412) 201-4702.
If you have any questions, please contact the
HWP Case Management Team at 1-800-215-7494 or
visit
www.pahealthywoman.com.
return to top
I see that PennDOT requires $20 for the specialty license plate. So is the fee for the license plate $34.00 or $54.00?
The breast cancer awareness license plate costs a total of $34.00, which includes the $20 that goes to PennDOT. The new plate will come with one new registration card. If you want any additional cards, they cost $1.50 each on top of the $34.00. return to top
Can I choose my own numbers or personalize this license plate?
Unfortunately, no. These plates are issued in sequential order only. They can not be personalized in any manner. These plates are not “pre-manufactured”. They are manufactured as the applications are received…in sequential order. return to top
I have a handicapped license plate. Can I get this plate with the handicapped logo?
PennDOT offers a person with disability plate that provides parking privileges and they offer a person with disability parking placard. (The placard hangs on the vehicle's rear view mirror and provides the same parking privileges as the person with disability plate.) Unfortunately, they are unable to offer specialty plates with the handicapped insignia on it. A customer can apply for a PA Breast Cancer Coalition plate and apply for a person with disability parking placard. This will afford you with the same parking privileges as a person with disability plate, while still supporting the PBCC. If you want to apply for the placard, you can access PennDOT’s form on their website at www.dmv.state.pa.us. The form you need is MV-145A. return to top
My registration is due soon (or I just renewed my registration). What should I do?
Please do not let your registration lapse! You need to renew your registration as normal. You will not be paying twice by paying for this specialty plate. The $34.00 is the fee for the specialty plate and does not affect your registration. On page 2 of the application is a place to fill in your current license plate number and the expiration date of your registration. When your new plate arrives, it will have a new registration card and sticker with your current expiration date. Therefore, you are not double-paying your registration and it does not matter where in the registration cycle you get this plate. return to top
How long does the license plate application process take?
The PBCC sends applications to PennDOT in batches around the 15th and the 30th of each month. Once PennDOT receives an application it takes about 6 weeks until the license plate arrives in your mailbox. Why? Because these specialty plates are not pre-made. They are made in consecutive order as applications are submitted. Please be patient! return to top
What is Paint PA Pink?
Paint PA Pink is the PBCC's online fundraising
tool available at www.pabreastcancer.org/ppp . We are challenging YOU to help us “Paint PA Pink” by spreading the word about breast cancer and help us color our online map pink with a donation.
How can I get involved with Paint PA Pink?
Give a donation to the PBCC and help us continue our educational programming, legislative advocacy,
breast cancer research and unique outreach initiatives. We encourage you to spread the word about Paint PA Pink to your community.
If I don’t have access to the internet can I still make a donation to Paint PA Pink?
YES! Donations can be sent to the PBCC located at
344 North Reading Road, Ephrata, PA 17522. Please make sure that you include “Paint PA Pink” in the check memo and we will manually enter the donation and credit your county.
If I have an event can my donation be applied to Paint PA Pink?
As of right now, our online map is only for individual donations. Our group fundraising events are recognized as our “Grassroots Partners” and receive recognition in different ways. We are hoping to expand Paint PA Pink in the future to include another page specifically for groups and organizations so check back often for updates.
Why is my county not changing color? I made a donation to Paint PA Pink.
The map’s colors will change only after your donation is processed, which may take up to 2 business days.
Who do I call if I have other questions about Paint PA Pink?
Any other questions can be answered by Jen Fetich, PBCC
Program Director. Jen can be reached at 800-377-8828 x101 or jennifer@pabreastcancer.org. |
