A Message To Our Local Communities

By now, most of you are probably aware of the controversy and questions regarding Susan G. Komen for the Cure's recent granting strategy and performance criteria revisions, as well as their potential impact on Planned Parenthood and other grantees. Like you, the Komen Sacramento Valley Affiliate is concerned about these changes and we, in tandem with the other Affiliates in the California Collaborative, are in discussions with Komen National headquarters. Our top priority in doing so is to do all we can to protect you, our supporters, and assure that the funds you so loyally invest in our work locally are put to the best possible use to advance our community's mission in the fight against breast cancer.

Please know the recent National policy changes in no way impact women in the Sacramento Valley Affiliate counties. None of our current grantees or most recent grant distributions for 2013 will be affected.  Planned Parenthood has not applied for funds from us in the past two years. Our funding priorities continue to be access to screening, which Planned Parenthood does not provide locally.

Since 1997 our Affiliate has worked tirelessly to meet the needs of those in our 19-county region who are underserved. We have invested more than $15 million in meeting the needs of women in our communities.

• Thirteen of our 19 counties are rural.
• 28% of those in our six eastern rural counties are uninsured.
• 23% of those in our western rural counties are uninsured. 
• In eleven of our rural counties there is a total of only eight screening facilities with ten screening machines
• Three of our counties have the highest mortality rates in the State – one of them has the highest incidence, late stage diagnosis and mortality rates in the region.

In the last two years we proudly awarded $2 million in grants to organizations that deliver services that might not otherwise be available, with 86-90% of the Sacramento Valley Affiliate funds directed at screening programs. In 2010 alone we funded:

• $900,000 which was directed to screening programs
• 10,415 women were assisted and provided with mammograms
• 87 breast cancers were detected
• Another 8,383 women in higher-risk  populations received breast cancer education

With your continued support, activism and trust the Sacramento Valley Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure looks forward to continuing our leadership and service in the fight against the horrible disease, breast cancer.

For a list of organizations benefiting from the Komen Sacramento Valley Affiliate Community Grants Program over the past five years, please visit www.komensacramento.org.

The Komen Sacramento Valley Affiliate assures all of you that we remain committed to - and are more passionate than ever about our promise to end breast cancer forever.

In thanks and hope,

Paula Birdsong
Executive Director