VIRGINIA BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION

Programs: Free educational materials for virginians - breast cancer is more than a pink ribbon campaign: vbcf offers free educational materials to virginians each year with the help of volunteers across the state distributing these materials in their local communities. Annual distribution of 100,000 free pink ribbons attached to a bilingual (english/spanish) education card with prevalence rates, detection tool information and the state's free mammogram screening (every women's life) contact information and of 50,000 breast health basics brochures with facts for women and men including disease facts,knowing your risk,symptoms, and lifestyle factors.

education and grantmaking: vbcf serves as a resource clearinghouse for virginians to find accurate, up-to-date information and local support services on breast cancer early detection, diagnosis, treatment, research, legislation, and survivorship. Services include a substantive website, monthly e newletters and a bi-annual print newsletter, educational events (including becky's place at ram, an educational tent at the 4 day remote area medical (ram) program in wise, va), coordinating volunteers for local speaking engagements and education tables, and offering newly diagnosed packets to those with breast cancer. Vbcf provides grants to virginia public libraries for updated breast cancer materials and to nonprofits for breast health education services in local va communities.

advocacy: vbcf coordinates virginians to gather twice a year to visit their legislators in the state general assembly and u. S. Congress to discuss and support improved breast cancer public policy and sponsors the annual karin decker noss scholarship to send a state advocate to national breast cancer conferences to bring back and share the latest information with fellow virginians. Vbcf also connects scientifically, nationally trained breast cancer advocates to bring an educated consumer perspective and critical thinking skills to the important issues and controvesies in breast cancer.

hold various meetings and conferences to educate members and the public about the latest breast cancer news, research, options, and risks.