{ COMMUNITY AWARENESS }
And the grant award goes to… Two breast cancer advocates empower women in their communities
By Kendra Y. Mims
The Plastic Surgery Foundation (The PSF), the philanthropic arm of ASPS, is committed to supporting organizations that focus on increasing breast reconstruction surgery awareness and education to women and their families. Through The PSF's Breast Reconstruction Awareness Fund, the Charitable Care Grant and the Public Awareness Grant provide financial assistance to organizations supporting uninsured or underinsured women who choose to have their breast(s) reconstructed following a lumpectomy or mastectomy (as a result of a breast cancer diagnosis). This issue highlights 2019 grant recipients Salem Baptist Church Ministries of Chicago, which provides educational and financial support to women of color who undergo mastectomies, and ALAS-Wings, a Latina association dedicated to empowering Hispanic women about breast reconstruction awareness. The PSF honored these organizations during the 2019 Chicago Breast Reconstruction Awareness Dinner, the second annual fundraising event of its kind. The program will expand to the Bay Area next year. Show your support and help raise awareness about breast reconstruction options. Donations are applied directly to qualified programs that support breast reconstruction-related research and awareness, and to help non-profit medical organizations providing charitable care to breast reconstruction patients. To donate, please contact Rochelle Jerry at (847) 228-7597 or visit thepsf.org.
WOMEN’S MINISTRY WALKS ALONGSIDE PATIENTS TO RAISE COMMUNITY AWARENESS In 2006, Salem Baptist Church launched its first walkathon to raise funds for breast cancer, HIV/ AIDS and domestic violence under the leadership of First Lady Jamell Meeks, director of the church's women’s ministries. In subsequent years, Meeks noticed an increase in phone calls and requests for assistance from women newly diagnosed with breast cancer in the community. “After the third year, we realized we needed something ongoing for these women, and it wasn’t enough to do something once a year,” she says. “We started our Heart 2 Heart meetings where we come together quarterly to offer seminars and educational events to help women facing breast cancer. We also bring in professionals to talk to them.” Meeks discovered most of the women who attended Heart 2 Heart were not undergoing breast reconstruction at the time of their mastectomy. Some felt it was too vain to consider reconstruction after breast cancer, while others declined
First Lady Jamell Meeks accepts the Public Awareness grant from The PSF immediatepast President Arun Gosain, MD.
the option due to their religious beliefs – not an uncommon decision for African-American women in the church, she notes. “We had to talk them through it to help them understand it’s not vanity; it’s part of their healing,” Meeks says. “So, part of our mission is to help women – especially women in church – understand it’s OK to have breast reconstruction.” Beyond simply raising awareness about breast reconstruction, Meeks saw a need to inform women of their options. “Sometimes they are shocked and just want the process over
without considering the latter,” she says. “They may wonder why no one told them about reconstruction or helped them understand the process or benefits. “This is why everyone needs an advocate,” she continues. “You can’t see the full picture if you’re in the frame. While you’re going through it, you need someone on the outside to tell you it’s going to be OK and this is something you’ll want later on. These women need to know all of the information upfront and understand all the details.” To date, the women’s ministry of Salem Baptist Church has raised more than $150,000 through fundraising efforts to help women of color diagnosed with breast cancer in underserved communities receive treatment. Women are not required to join the church to receive financial support or participate in Heart 2 Heart events. Meeks notes some women in their meetings concede they often have to choose between paying for their medication or rent. The ministry walks alongside PSN: BREAST RECONSTRUCTION 2019 l
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