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STATE
INCOME TAX CHECK-OFF FOR BREAST CANCER
RESEARCH FEATURED
(Ephrata,
PA) Pat Halpin-Murphy, President and Founder
of the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition
(PBCC), announced a press conference on the
Income Tax Check-Off for Breast and Cervical
Cancer Research to be held on Thursday,
April 11, 2002, at 1:30pm at The Library Center,
Point Park College, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh,
414 Wood Street, Pittsburgh.
Featured speakers
in addition to Halpin-Murphy include Kellie Robertson, Ph.D., Professor at the
University of Pittsburgh and a breast cancer survivor; Francesmary Modugno, Ph.D.,
Assistant Professor of Epidemiology and 2001 grant recipient; and Herb Elish,
Director of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh (The Library Center features assistance
in tax preparation and business resources).
Landmark legislation
initiated by the PBCC in 1997 established The Breast and Cervical Cancer Research
Fund, which allows Pennsylvania taxpayers to donate all or part of their state
tax refund to research. The average tax refund donation is $8.00. To date, over
$900,000 has been raised.
Mrs. Kathy Schweiker,
First Lady of Pennsylvania and Honorary Chair of PBCC, said, "The Income Tax
Check-Off for Breast and Cervical Cancer Research is a wonderful opportunity
to make a real difference in the fight against cancer by donating all or a portion
of your state income tax refund to Pennsylvania's research efforts. It is especially
important to note that all of the money goes to Pennsylvania-based researchers,
working for the women and families of the Commonwealth to find a cure for breast
and cervical cancer."
PBCC President and
Founder Pat Halpin-Murphy, a breast cancer survivor, said, "Every single penny
of the money raised is awarded to researchers across the state. The PBCC is a
force for women and their families and the incredible success of this simple
and effective way to raise research dollars renews our commitment to find a cure
for breast cancer now.so our daughters won't have to."
Halpin-Murphy chairs
the Pennsylvania Department of Health's Cancer Advisory Board's Income Tax Check-Off
Committee, which recommends how the refund donations should be awarded to researchers.
The
PBCC, founded in 1993, is a non-profit organization
dedicated to ending the breast cancer epidemic
through research, education, outreach and
advocacy. As the only statewide grassroots
organization that speaks to and for breast
cancer survivors, the PBCC insured the passage
of two crucial pieces of Commonwealth legislation:
- The Breast and Cervical Cancer Research Act, which allows taxpayers to donate
all or part of their state income tax refunds to breast and cervical cancer
research; and
- The Breast Cancer Reconstructive Surgery Act, which mandates insurance coverage
for post- mastectomy breast reconstruction and prohibits outpatient mastectomies.
The
PBCC serves each of the Commonwealth's 67
counties through the Income Tax Check-Off,
Mother's Day Mammograms®, the Keystone
Breast Cancer Conference, and the photo exhibit, "67
Women, 67 Counties: Facing Breast Cancer
in Pennsylvania."
For more information about the PBCC visit our website at www.pabreastcancer.org or
call 717/738-9567 or toll free 1-800-377-8828. |
