The Witness Project, a program of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) to increase awareness of breast cancer, has been awarded a $20,000 one-year grant from the Avon Foundation Breast Care Fund.

It is the eighth year the program has received Avon Foundation funding.

The Witness Project, sponsored by the UAMS College of Public Health and founded by the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, educates African-American and medically underserved women and refers them to low-cost or free mammograms and clinical breast exams in their communities.

Mobile mammography units provide screenings for women living in counties with limited access to certified mammography facilities. The program also assists women with transportation and other unmet needs. Educational programs are presented at churches, civic centers, job sites and during community activities.

In the past five years, The Witness Project has educated and assisted more than 12,894 women in 23 Arkansas counties. Since January 2008, the program has reached more than 1,770 women with information about the importance of early detection of breast cancer and has referred almost 175 women for mammograms and clinical breast exams. Of the 175 women referred, 119 women received mammograms.

Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women in the United States and the leading single cause of death overall in women between the ages of 40 and 55. According to the American Cancer Society, 1,790 new cases of breast cancer were detected in Arkansas in 2008 and 410 lives were expected to be lost. Nationwide, there is a new diagnosis every three minutes and a death from breast cancer every 14 minutes.

While advances have been made in prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure, early detection still affords the best opportunity for successful treatment. Programs such as The Witness Project help ensure that all women have access to early detection information and options, even economically disadvantaged and medically underserved women.

“We are proud that the Avon Foundation shares the mission of The Witness Project. With these funds, The Witness Project will be able to reach the underserved and underinsured women in Arkansas’ Delta region with early-detection screenings and provide services to these ladies who would not otherwise be screened,” said Ella Anderson, Witness Project role model.

The Avon Foundation Inc. has funded community-based programs designed to improve utilization of regular breast cancer screening by at-risk populations (minority and under-insured) since 1993. The Witness Project at UAMS and other programs are dedicated to educating underserved women about breast cancer and linking them to early detection screening services.

The Avon Foundation and Breast Cancer Crusade The Avon Foundation, an accredited 501(c)(3) public charity, was founded in 1955 to improve the lives of women and their families. Now past the half-century milestone, the foundation brings this mission to life through the Speak Out Against Domestic Violence program and the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade, which raises funds and awareness to advance access to care and finding a cure for breast cancer, with a focus on the medically underserved.

Since 1992 the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade has raised and awarded more than $450 million worldwide for medical research; access to care; support services; screening and diagnostics; and education and awareness. The largest fundraising program in the United States is the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer series. The Avon Foundation Breast Care Fund The Avon Foundation Breast Care Fund is administered by Cicatelli Associates Inc. to support community-based, nonprofit breast health programs across the country.

The fund's National Advisory Board selected The Witness Project at UAMS as one of 2009 new grant recipients nationwide in the 2009 cycle of Avon Foundation Breast Care Fund grants. These organizations were chosen based on their ability to effectively reach women, particularly minority, low-income and older women, who are often medically underserved.