The Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition (PBCC) and Plum Borough High School in suburban Pittsburgh are set to kick off the PBCC's statewide Income Tax Check Off program at a special high school rally Thursday, February 17, 2000 at 10:00 AM. The rally will include breast cancer research grant presentations totaling $3000 to three Pittsburgh area women researchers. The researchers are Isabella Verdinelli, Ph.D., Carnegie Mellon University, Hannah Rabinowich, Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh and Jean J. Latimer, Ph.D., Magee Womens Research Institute. All three women were grant recipients from the PBCC's first Income Tax Check-off program.

The Girls Leaders Association (GLA), of Plum Senior High School, raised the $3000 last October in a "Make A Difference Day Walk" to benefit breast cancer research. Created in 1962 the GLA boasts a membership of more than 300 young women devoted to helping the community through various outreach efforts. Charlotte Asherman, PBCC Executive Director, and a 1967 graduate of Plum Senior High School served in the GLA and will deliver the keynote address at the school rally.

In 1997, Governor Tom Ridge signed the PBCC's Income Tax Check Off legislation which raised over $500,000 for breast and cervical cancer research in two years. The tax check off allows Pennsylvanians to donate their state tax refunds directly to breast and cervical cancer research. 100% of the money raised is presented as grants to researchers across the state. In April 1999, Governor Ridge and First Lady Michele Ridge, PBCC Honorary Chair presented grants averaging $25,000 to eleven researchers, including those at the University of Pittsburgh, Magee Women's Hospital and Carnegie Mellon University. Second-year grant will be presented later this year.

Plum Senior High School Assistant Principal Pam Kinzler and Marilyn Bott, Director of the Girls Leaders Assocation will also participate in the rally.

The Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition, founded in 1993, is a non-profit organization. It serves each of the state's 67 counties though programs such as the Income Tax Check Off program, Mother's Day Mammograms®, the Keystone Breast Cancer Conference and "67 Women, 67 Counties: Facing Breast Cancer in Pennsylvania." The Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition's mission is to find a cure for breast cancer and to improve the quality of breast cancer education, outreach and research in the state.