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

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - The Plastic Surgery Foundation (The PSF) today announced the recipients of its 2014 Breast Reconstruction Awareness Fund grant awards. Sixteen nonprofit organizations from across the country have been awarded funding, totaling more than $200,000 to support projects and programs that seek to increase breast reconstruction awareness and/or charitable surgical care for women diagnosed with breast cancer.

"This year's recipients have displayed exceptional dedication to women who have experienced breast cancer by bringing awareness to their breast reconstruction options. Working with physicians to determine the most appropriate option is part of the breast cancer continuum of care we are advocating," noted Kevin Chung, MD, President of The Plastic Surgery Foundation. "In providing grants to these very deserving organizations, we hope to enable the meaningful work they are doing to continue and expand in reach. We are very proud to play a role in the outstanding work being led by our recipients."

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

Breast Reconstruction Surgery Charitable Care Grants

Grants, up to $15,000, are 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. Special funding has been allocated to support organizations that serve patients residing in the Salt Lake City Utah or Newark, New Jersey areas.

Breast Reconstruction Surgery Public Awareness Grants

Grants, up to $10,000, are 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 will be given to those organizations that are participating in Breast Reconstruction Awareness Day 2014 events.

The 2014 Breast Reconstruction Awareness Fund grant recipients are:

Charitable Care Grant Recipients

• Breast Intentions
• Breast Treatment Task Force
• Evelyn's Breast Friends Forever
• Gateway to Hope
• Holy Cross Hospital, Inc.
• Northern Westchester Hospital Foundation
• Rutgers New Jersey Medical School

Public Awareness Grant Recipients

• Advocate Charitable Foundation for Advocate Health Care
• Evelyn's Breast Friends Forever
• Gateway to Hope
• St. John's Healthcare Foundation
• Living Beyond Breast Cancer
• Mercy Medical Center
• OSF St. Joseph Foundation
• Scott & White Healthcare Foundation
• University of Texas System
• The Rose of Houston
• Watertown Regional Medical Center

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.