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Pat
Halpin-Murphy, President and Founder of the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition
today joined First Lady Michele M. Ridge in presenting research grants funded
through Pennsylvania's Income Tax Check Off for Breast and Cervical Cancer. Six
researchers received grants at the event, held at the Hershey Medical Center. In 1997, through legislation initiated by the
Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition, Governor
Tom Ridge established an income tax check check
off provision allowing Pennsylvanians to donate
their state tax refund to breast and cervical
cancer research. In its first two years the program
has raised more than $500,000. One hundred percent
of the money raised is presented as grants to
researchers across the state.
First Lady Michele Ridge is Honorary Chairwoman
of the PBCC. "The message is consistent and
clear, early detection and early treatment are
essential and save lives, Mrs. Ridge said. "That
is why so many concerned citizens and community
groups, like the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer
Coalition work to educate the public about
early detection
and treatment and why the importance of cancer
research cannot be emphasized enough."
Funds are administered through
the Cancer Advisory Board of the PA Department
of Health. Pat Halpin-Murphy
serves as Co-Chair of the Board's "Income Tax
Check Off" committee for Breast and Cervical
Cancer Research, "It is exciting to know taxpayers
in the Commonwealth support this program so deeply," said
Halpin-Murphy. So much promising research is
taking place in Pennsylvania. It is only through
efforts like this that we will be able to fund
this research and reach our goal of finding
a cure now...so our daughters won't
have to."
This year's grant recipients are:
- Stephen G. Grant, Ph.D. — University
of Pittsburgh
- Glenn L. Radice, Ph.D. — University
of Pennsylvania
- Mary B. Daly, M.D., Ph.D. — Fox
Chase Cancer Center
- Craig Meyers, Ph.D. — Penn
State University
- Aurelia M. C. Koros, Ph.D. — University
of Pittsburgh
- Jeffrey D. Winkler, Ph.D. — University
of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvanians are reminded to check line 37 on
the long form and line 17 on the PA 40-EZ form
to donate all or part of their state tax refund
to breast and cervical cancer research. For more
information call the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer
Coalition at 717-738-9567. |
