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Gildas' Club Receives Grant To Support Breast Health For The Underserved

Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids’ recently received a 24-thousand dollar grant to support breast health to underserved populations. 

“I think that in terms of the resource information that we’re able to provide as well as the emotional support and education about breast health, is so incredibly important.”

A new grant from the Susan G. Komen Michigan is allowing what Gilda’s Club program director, Jan Miller, calls “important” information to move forward.  The Breast Health and Navigation and Support Program for the Underserved will provide critical emotional support and education.  Targeting women in the Hispanic and African American communities, the grant allows Gilda’s Club to bring help directly to those in need.  Minority coordinators work with faith based organizations and others.

“We find with some of the underrepresented populations, not being familiar with what we do here, going in to the neighborhoods, is the way to really reach them with what we can provide, so this grant allows us to do that with our minority coordinators.”

Miller says educational information  along with emotional support can be critical when a person is dealing with cancer.

“People on any part of their journey, whether they have suspicious mammogram that has created anxiety about whether they do have cancer, whether they have hereditary component, or they’re just starting treatment, whatever it is, it’s important for us to be able to provide that emotional support.”

Miller says there are a number of collaborative efforts within the West Michigan community that help them achieve their goals of support and education related to breast health.  Current African American and Hispanic support groups and social events will continue at Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids Clubhouse, even as the programs continue to expand further into the community.  The grant is funded through March of next year.

Jennifer is an award winning broadcast news journalist with more than two decades of professional television news experience including the nation's fifth largest news market. She's worked as both news reporter and news anchor for television and radio in markets from Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo all the way to San Francisco, California.