The Plastic Surgery Foundation (The PSF) Awards Grants to Nonprofits for Breast Reconstruction Awareness, Charitable Care

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL – The Plastic Surgery Foundation (The PSF) today announced the recipients of its 2015 Breast Reconstruction Awareness Fund grant awards. Fifteen nonprofit organizations from across the country have been awarded funding, totaling $170,000 to support projects and programs that seek to increase breast reconstruction awareness and/or charitable surgical care for women diagnosed with breast cancer.

"We are humbled by the tireless work this year's grant recipients do on behalf of The Breast Reconstruction Awareness Campaign. Through their efforts, breast cancer survivors are empowered by becoming aware of their reconstructive rights and options and women who may not otherwise be able to have breast reconstruction due to financial limitations are provided charitable care for reconstructive surgeries – these are life-changing initiatives," Nicholas Vedder, MD, Immediate Past President of The Plastic Surgery Foundation, said. "The grant recipients' dedication to educating patients and their compassion exhibited to patients in need are extraordinary and we are proud to support their efforts."

Grantees submitted applications in the following Breast Reconstruction Awareness Fund grant categories:

Breast Reconstruction Surgery Charitable Care Grants

Grants, up to $15,000, were awarded to U.S. based charities that have a demonstrated a track record of providing effective breast reconstruction surgery charity care. Grant funds must be used to directly support the surgical care expenses for women having breast reconstruction surgery, particularly for uninsured and underinsured women in underserved communities. Funds from this grant cannot be used for plastic surgeon physician surgical fees.

Breast Reconstruction Surgery Public Awareness Grants

Grants, up to $10,000, were awarded to U.S. based charities with a demonstrated commitment to developing and implementing projects and programs for the purpose of raising the awareness of breast reconstruction surgery options in the community. Special consideration was given to those organizations that are participating in Breast Reconstruction Awareness Day 2015 events.

The 2015 Breast Reconstruction Awareness Fund grant recipients are:

Charitable Care Grant Recipients

• Breast Treatment Task Force (New York, N.Y.)
• Gateway to Hope (St. Louis, Mo.)
• Memorial Health Care System Foundation (Chattanooga, Tenn.)
• Monmouth Medical Center Foundation (Long Branch, N.J.)
• My Hope Chest (Seminole, Fla.)

Public Awareness Grant Recipients

• Cabell Huntington Hospital Foundation (Huntington, W. Va.)
• Evelyn's Breast Friends Forever (Torrance, Calif.)
• Facing Our Risk (Tampa, Fla.)
• Pink Ribbon Girls (Cincinnati, Ohio)
• Scott & White Healthcare Foundation (Temple, Texas)
• Seton Healthcare Family (Austin, Texas)
• Southern Illinois University (Springfield, Ill.)
• St. John's Healthcare Foundation (Oxnard, Calif.)
• University of Pittsburgh & UPMC (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
• Watertown Regional Medical Center (Watertown, Wis.)

The Breast Reconstruction Awareness Fund and its grant programs were established through proceeds generated from Breast Reconstruction Awareness Day USA, which is part of a campaign sponsored by The PSF and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). The goal of the Breast Reconstruction Awareness Fund is to fund research, further awareness and education, and provide financial assistance to organizations supporting the surgical care of uninsured or under-insured women diagnosed with breast cancer who undergo breast reconstruction.