Local Komen grants will benefit 14 agencies
Posted on Wednesday, April 2, 2008
SPRINGDALE - Representatives of the Ozark Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure announced plans for dispersing $ 653, 800 raised last year during a press conference Tuesday at the Jones Center for Families.
Seventy-five percent of funds raised by the affiliate each year goes to fighting breast cancer locally, chairman Mary Purvis said.
"Twenty-five percent goes to national Komen research," guest speaker Jane Gearhart said.
Megan Murphy, director of mission services, said the money raised last year will go to 14 agencies and organizations in the Northwest Arkansas' eight-county service area. This includes the counties of Benton, Boone, Carroll, Crawford, Madison, Newton, Sebastian and Washington.
The agencies and their grants were announced by Murphy and grant chairman Sara Eichmann as follows • AHEC-NW at Harrison, $ 69, 667 • Arkansas Department of Health Breast Care Program, $ 25, 000 • Cancer Support Home, $ 77, 725 • Community Clinic at St. Francis House, $ 61, 558 • Donald W. Reynolds Cancer Support House, $ 21, 385 • Good Samaritan Clinic, $ 1, 000 • HOPE Inc., $ 39, 488 • Madison County Health Coalition, $ 54, 069 • Merlin Foundation, $ 44, 242 • NARTI, $ 32, 040 • St. Edward Mercy Foundation, $ 45, 945 • St. Francis Clinic of Siloam Springs, $ 59, 111 • Women's Center at Sparks Health System, $ 70, 040 • Washington Regional Medical Center, $ 52, 350 Since the Ozark affiliate was established in 1998, it has given $ 4. 3 million to various agencies for breast cancer research and programs in Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley.
Jamie Urlich, artist and owner of Terra Studios near Durham, spoke at the announcement about the artist park's new Pink Bird of Hope glass collectible, which is designed to complement its signature Bluebird of Happiness collectible. Ten percent of the proceeds of the Pink Bird of Hope are donated to the Ozark affiliate, he said.
Urlich announced he was ready to make his first donation of $ 3, 532 from the sale proceeds.
"Thank you for this opportunity," he said. "We welcome the opportunity to help find a cure."
The affiliate's main fundraising event, the annual Race for the Cure, is scheduled for April 19 at the new Arvest Ballpark in Springdale.
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