RESEARCH GRANTEES
Isolating Rare and Invasive Breast Cancer Cells to Uncover New Genetic Drivers and Therapeutic Opportunities
Dr. Adam Marcus
Emory University
Novel Biomarkers for Early Detection of Triple Negative Breast Cancer
Dr. Veena Rao
Morehouse School of Medicine
Engineered Model of the Mammary Tumor Microenvironment: Building the Framework for a Predictive Model of Breast Cancer Metastatic Potential
Dr. Cheryl Gomillion
University of Georgia Research Foundation
PROGRAM GRANTEES
Athens Nurses Clinic
Healthy Northeast Georgia Women
Banks, Barrow, Clarke, Dawson, Fannin, Franklin, Greene, Gwinnett, Jackson, Madison, Morgan, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Rabun, Stephens, Walton, Washington counties
The Healthy Northeast Georgia Women’s project is in its seventh year of providing breast health education, screening, examinations, screening & diagnostic mammograms, and ultrasounds & biopsies. This care is provided free of cost to uninsured indigent women in Athens and northeast Georgia. It’s The Journey is proud to fund screening mammograms for the 2018-2019 grant year.
Atlanta Cancer Care Foundation
Patient Financial Assistance Program
Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, Dawson, Dekalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Hall, Henry. Newton, Paulding, Rockdale, Walton counties
The Atlanta Cancer Care Foundation provides assistance to adult cancer patients who are financially challenged by a cancer diagnosis. Approved grants are applied directly towards daily expenses such as mortgage or rent payments, utility bills, groceries, transportation, durable medical equipment, prescription medications, lymphedema garments or similar expenses.
Boat People (SOS)-Atlanta
Health Awareness & Promotion Program for Breast Cancer
Barrow, Bartow, Clayton, Cobb, Dekalb, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Rockdale, Walton counties
The Health Awareness & Promotion Program for Breast Cancer seeks to improve access and promote preventive breast health services to underserved Asian women by providing culturally and linguistically appropriate breast health services. It’s The Journey is proud to help fund screening mammograms and clinical breast exams for the 2018-2019 grant year.
Cancer Support Community Atlanta
Living Fully with Breast Cancer
Baldwin, Barrow, Bartow, Bibb, Bleckley, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, Dawson, Douglas, Fayette, Floyd, Forsyth, Fulton, Greene, Gwinnett, Hall, Henry, Houston, Jackson, Jones, Lumpkin, Monroe, Morgan, Newton, Paulding, Pickens, Putnam, Rockdale, White counties
The Living Fully with Breast Cancer program provides breast cancer patients and survivors supportive programs that include gentle exercise classes, nutrition programs, education forums, support groups and stress reduction classes.
Center for Black Women’s Wellness
Community Breast Health Initiative
Clayton, Cobb, Dekalb, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry counties
The Center for Black Women’s Wellness Inc. seeks to improve the health and well-being of black women and their families and the economic health of communities. This year, support from It’s The Journey for their Community Breast Health Initiative increases access to breast health services for under-served women, including but not limited to clinical breast exams, mammography screenings, and diagnostic services. Additionally, a breast health advocate will ensure appropriate linkage to care and treatment for women diagnosed with breast cancer during the grant period.
Center for Pan Asian Community Services (CPACS)
Asian Breast Care Program
Cobb, Dekalb, Fulton, Gwinnett counties
The Asian Breast Care program was developed in 1994 as a response to the growing Atlanta Asian American population and the lack of linguistically and culturally appropriate services. Funding from It’s The Journey goes to support mammograms for the 2018-2019 grant year.
Clarkston Community Health Center
CCHC Breast Health Initiative
Dekalb, Fulton, Gwinnett counties
Clarkston Community Health Center’s Breast Health Initiative (BHI) aims to address barriers that immigrant and refugee women face by providing culturally and linguistically appropriate breast health education and services. Funding from It’s The Journey for the 2018-2019 grant year goes to support a program coordinator and screening mammograms.
East Georgia Cancer Coalition
Have You Been Screened? Mammography Program
EGCC-North
Banks, Barrow, Clarke, Elbert, Franklin, Greene, Hart, Jackson, Lincoln, Madison, Morgan, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Taliaferro, Walton, Wilkes counties
EGCC-South
Burke, Columbia, Emanuel, Glascock, Hancock, Jefferson, Jenkins, Johnson, McDuffie, Richmond, Screven, Warren, Washington counties
The Have You Been Screened? Mammography program increases community access to mammogram services by addressing structural barriers and reducing out-of-pocket costs. The program incorporates the Community Guide’s evidence based task force recommendations by reducing the time and/or distance between the service delivery settings and target populations, offering services during non-traditional hours and offering services in alternative, non-clinical settings.
Emory University Department of Human Genetics
Bridge the GAP- Genetic Access Program for Individuals at Risk for Hereditary Breast Cancer
Cobb, Coweta, Dekalb, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry counties
Bridge the GAP provides access to genetic counseling and testing for individuals who have a personal or family history suggestive of hereditary breast cancer and are uninsured or under-insured. Program participants are identified and seen at the Avon Comprehensive Breast Center at Grady Hospital or through the Emory Winship Genetic Counseling Program.
Good News Clinic
Breast Disease Prevention and Treatment Program
Hall County
The Breast Disease Prevention and Treatment Project provides free clinical breast exams and screening mammograms to uninsured Hall County residents who have no other resources to receive them. Those who have positive screening results or symptoms requiring additional testing will be referred through Good News Clinics’ Health Access Program for free follow-up care including free diagnostic imaging. Funding from It’s The Journey for the 2018-2019 grant year goes to support mammograms and staff.
Good Samaritan Health Center
Women’s Health Screenings
Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, Decatur, Dekalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Paulding, Pike, Polk, Rockdale counties
The Women’s Health Screening Program provides clinical breast exams, screening mammograms, and diagnostic testing to uninsured, low- income women in Atlanta and the surrounding areas. This program targets women who are most in need of access to healthcare services and most at risk because of income and/or race. It’s the Journey would allow Good Sam to provide clinical breast exams, screening mammograms and diagnostic services for many of these women who do not otherwise have access to these tests.
Good Samaritan Health Center of Cobb
Women’s Health Initiative
Bartow, Cherokee, Cobb, Dekalb, Douglas, Fulton, Gwinnett, Paulding counties
The Women’s Health Initiative provides timely access to breast exams and mammogram referrals, education resources in a linguistically and culturally appropriate manner, and serves as a women’s healthcare safety net in order to help women live healthier lives. Funding from It’s The Journey goes to support clinical breast exams.
Gwinnett Medical Foundation
Mammograms for the Uninsured- Underserved
Banks, Barrow, Dekalb, Forsyth, Gwinnett, Hall, Henry, Jackson, Newton, Walton counties
The Mammograms for the Uninsured- Underserved project provides breast cancer screenings and evaluations of breast abnormalities for under-insured people in Gwinnett County by providing mammograms to patients without insurance. Funding from It’s The Journey for the 2018-2019 grant year goes to support mammograms.
Hadassah Greater Atlanta/Northside Hospital Cancer Institute
Check It Out!
Cobb, Dekalb, Fulton counties
Check It Out! is a breast health and cancer awareness program for female high school students as well as women at work and in women’s groups. The program strives to educate young women, especially those in pre-mammography age groups, about breast cancer, healthy lifestyle choices, and the importance of knowing their own bodies.
Lighthouse Lymphedema Network
Compression for the Cause
Banks, Barrow, Ben Hill, Berrien, Bibb, Bryan, Burke, Butts, Catoosa, Chatham, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Columbia, Coweta, Crisp, Dawson, Dekalb, Douglas, Effingham, Elbert, Emanuel, Fayette, Forsyth, Franklin, Fulton, Glascock, Gordon, Greene, Gwinnett, Habersham, Hall, Hart, Henry, Irwin, Jackson, Jasper, Jeff Davis, Lincoln, Lumpkin, Madison, McDuffie, Monroe, Morgan, Murray, Muscogee, Newton, Oconee, Paulding, Rabun, Richmond, Rockdale, Spalding, Sumter, Taliaferro, Tift, Walker, Walton, Warren, Washington, White, Wilkes counties
The Lighthouse Lymphedema Network has established the Bandages and Garment Fund to help individuals with lymphedema purchase the garments required to maintain the reduction gained from Complete Decongestive Therapy, the only treatment method available for lymphedema. Lymphedema is a condition approximately 50% of breast cancer patients will develop, and the garments are often not covered by health insurance. Funds from It’s The Journey will help an additional 30-35 breast cancer survivors obtain the needed compression.
Macon Volunteer Clinic
Breast Health Education and Screening Program
Bibb County
The Breast Health Education and Screening Program provides female patients with annual breast exams, as well as education about breast health, clinical signs of breast cancer, and breast self-examinations. Funds from It’s The Journey for the 2018-2019 grant year provide screening mammograms.
Meadows Regional Medical Center
MRMC Breast Health Program
Montgomery, Toombs, Tattnall counties
The Breast Health Program provides community education programs for breast health awareness and mammogram screening for vulnerable women of the region. Services target low income and uninsured residents of Toombs, Tattnall, and Montgomery counties of southeast Georgia. Fund from It’s The Journey’s 2018-2019 grant year support mammograms.
Mercy Care Foundation
Breast and Cervical Cancer Program
Clayton, Cobb, Dekalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Rockdale counties
The Breast and Cervical Cancer Program includes self-breast examinations, clinical breast exams and mammograms, increased access to preventative and clinical services, and detection of any potential abnormalities through clinical exams and screening mammograms.
Northside Hospital
Breast Diagnostic Services for Underserved Women
Inside Metro Atlanta
Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Dekalb, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett counties
Outside Metro Atlanta
Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Dawson, Decatur, Fannin, Gilmer, Gordon, Gwinnett, Hall, Jackson, Lumpkin, Meriwether, Pickens, Spalding counties
The Breast Diagnostic Services for Underserved Women project aims to detect breast cancer earlier and reduce the number of late stage disease diagnosed in underserved women with a focus on women of Hispanic or African American descent who live both inside and outside the metro-Atlanta area. Support from It’s The Journey provides free diagnostic services to underserved/uninsured women who live below 250% of the federal poverty level.
Piedmont Athens Regional Foundation
Coordinated Community Breath Health: Support Services
Banks, Barrow, Clarke, Elbert, Franklin, Greene, Habersham, Hart, Jackson, Madison, Morgan, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Stephens, Taliaferro, Walton, Wilkes counties
The Coordinated Community Breast Health initiative includes both group and individual support services, genetic counseling and testing, and lymphedema and wig services. Funds from the It’s The Journey 2018-2019 grant year will help fund genetic counseling, monthly support groups, a hormone therapy class, and lymphedema and wig services.
Piedmont Athens Regional Foundation-Screening & Diagnostics
Coordinated Community Breast Health Initiative
Banks, Barrow, Clarke, Elbert, Franklin, Greene, Habersham, Hart, Jackson, Madison, Morgan, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Stephens, Taliaferro, Walton, Wilkes counties
The Coordinated Community Breast Health Initiative aims to provide free screening 3D mammograms to individuals in their service area who cannot afford one due to financial status. They also provide diagnostic services required to investigate a possible cancer found during screening. Funds from It’s The Journey for the 2018-2019 grant year support mammograms, ultrasounds, and biopsies.
Piedmont Healthcare Foundation on behalf of Piedmont Hospital
PINK at Piedmont
Cherokee, Cobb, Dekalb, Fulton, Gwinnett counties
PINK at Piedmont Atlanta Hospital is a comprehensive wellness program for women undergoing treatment for breast cancer and is designed to speed recovery and reduce recurrence. Funds from It’s The Journey for the 2018-2019 grant year go to support wellness and fitness programs for breast cancer patients.
Piedmont Healthcare Foundation on behalf of Piedmont Hospital
Fighting Breast Cancer through Genetics Program
Carroll, Cherokee, Clarke, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, Dekalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Newton, Rockdale counties
The Fighting Breast Cancer through Genetics Program at Piedmont Healthcare aims to provide cutting edge genetic testing services to medically underserved individuals. Genetic counseling and testing services are provided for patients at risk for hereditary breast cancer who are medically underserved or uninsured and live in the metropolitan Atlanta region or near Athens.
Piedmont Healthcare Foundation-Newnan Hospital
Breast Health Screening and Diagnostic Services for Uninsured Women
Carroll, Coweta, Fayette, Fulton, Heard, Meriwether, Spalding, Troup counties
With the support from It’s The Journey, the Breast Health Screening and Diagnostic Services for Uninsured Women program will provide screening, diagnostic breast imaging, and biopsy free of charge for at least 80 patients from Coweta County and the surrounding metropolitan Atlanta counties who otherwise would not be able to afford these life-saving procedures.
St. Joseph’s Candler
Mission Possible: Bridging the Mammography Gap
Appling, Bryan, Bulloch, Candler, Chatham, Effingham, Glyn, Jasper, Liberty, McIntosh, Screven, Tattnall, Toombs, Treutlen counties
Mission Possible: Bridging the Mammography Gap provides breast health services to the underserved at no cost at all for patients that meet established financial criteria. Services include screening and diagnostic mammograms, breast ultrasound and MRI, image guided breast biopsies, and case management/patient navigation throughout the continuum of breast cancer detection, care and survivorship.
The Cancer Foundation
Financial Assistance Program
Banks, Barrow, Clarke, Elbert, Franklin, Greene, Habersham, Hart, Jackson, Madison, Morgan, Newton, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Putnam, Stephens, Taliaferro, Walton, Wilkes counties
The Financial Assistance Program provides emergency monetary assistance to individuals undergoing breast cancer treatment who are experiencing an immediate financial crisis because they cannot pay for basic life needs such as rent, utilities, medication, or transportation.
Turning Point Breast Cancer Rehabilitation
Reducing Barriers to Breast Cancer Rehabilitation & Survivorship Support
Barrow, Bartow, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Dawson, Dekalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gilmer, Gwinnett, Hall, Henry, Jackson, Madison, Newton, Paulding, Pickens, Rabun, Rockdale, Walton, White counties
The Reducing Barriers to Breast Cancer Rehabilitation & Survivorship Support program provides financial assistance to under-/uninsured and low-income patients to increase access to tailored breast cancer rehabilitation and survivorship support services.
University Health Care Foundation
Mobile Mammograms: Removing Barriers a Mile at a Time
Bulloch, Burke, Columbia, Emanuel, Glascock, Jefferson, Lincoln, McDuffie, Richmond, Screven, Warren, Washington, Wilkes counties
University Health’s Mobile Mammography Unit provides screening mammography services for those who live in rural areas where routine screenings are not available. They also provide services for those for whom transportation is an issue. Funds from It’s The Journey go to pay for mammograms.
WellStar Atlanta Medical Center
Reducing Late Stage Breast Cancer
Butts, Clayton, Coweta, Dekalb, Fayette, Gwinnett, Henry, Spalding counties
The Reducing Late Stage Breast Cancer program at WellStar Atlanta Medical Center provides free screening mammograms and diagnostic services to women and men who lack access to or are unable to afford these life-saving services within WellStar Atlanta Medical Center’s service area. Funding from It’s The Journey goes to support screening mammograms.
WellStar Foundation-Legacy
Reducing Late Stage Breast Cancer- Legacy Programs
Bartow, Carroll, Cherokee, Cobb, Douglas, Floyd, Fulton, Paulding, Pickens counties
The Reducing Late Stage Breast Cancer- Legacy program provides free screening mammograms and diagnostic services for men and women who lack access to or are unable to afford these life-saving services in the legacy WellStar area (primarily Cobb, Douglas, Cherokee, and Paulding counties).
WellStar Foundation-Spalding Regional
Reducing Late Stage Breast Cancer
Butts, Henry, Lamar, Pike, Spalding, Upson counties
The Reducing Late Stage Breast Cancer program at WellStar Spalding Regional provides free screening mammograms and diagnostic services to women and men who are unable to afford or lack access to healthcare within the counties served by WellStar Spalding Regional, one of the new WellStar facilities. Funds from It’s The Journey support screening mammograms.