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UNIVERSITY
OF PENNSYLVANIA CANCER CENTER TO HOST EVENT
FOR PENNSYLVANIA'S STATE INCOME TAX CHECK-OFF
FOR BREAST AND CERVICAL CANCER RESEARCH
(Ephrata,
PA) First Lady Kathy Schweiker, Honorary Chair
of the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition
(PBCC), will hold a press Conference at the
University of Pennsylvania Biomedical Research
Building, University of Pennsylvania Campus,
Civic Center Boulevard and Osler Drive, 14th
Floor, on Wednesday, April 3, 2002, at 11:30
A.M.
The
First Lady is awarding the research grants
from Pennsylvania's state income tax check-off
for Breast and Cervical Cancer Research. Featured
speakers joining Mrs. Schweiker include Pat
Halpin-Murphy, PBCC President and Founder;
John Glick, M.D., Director of the University
of Pennsylvania Cancer Center; and Pennsylvania
Secretary of Health Robert S. Zimmerman, Jr.
At 11:00 AM, prior to the press conference,
Mrs. Schweiker will tour a research laboratory
at the Biomedical Research Building.
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, nearly $1 million has been raised.
Mrs.
Schweiker said, "The Income Tax Check-Off
for Breast 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
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 Control, Prevention and Research Advisory
Board's Income Tax Check-Off Committee which
recommends how the refund donations should
be distributed.
Mrs.
Schweiker will join Pennsylvania Secretary
of Health Robert Zimmerman to announce the
names of this year's grant recipients at the
press conference.
Private
donations also can be made to the research
fund. To make private donations to the Income
Tax Check-Off for Breast and Cervical Cancer
Research, checks should be written to the Breast
and Cervical Cancer Research Fund and sent
to the following address: Department of Health,
Bureau of Financial and Administrative Services,
P.O. Box 90, Health & Welfare Building,
Harrisburg, PA 17108.
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. |
