Friday, March 02, 2007
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Gov. Blagojevich announces $2 million in Ticket for the Cure grants for breast cancer education and support services

New Ticket for the Cure game unveiled          Send a link to a friend

[March 02, 2007]  CHICAGO -- Officials from Governor Rod R. Blagojevich's Administration announced $2 million in Ticket for the Cure grants on Wednesday to 41 Illinois organizations for breast cancer education efforts and to help provide supportive services for breast cancer victims and their families. On behalf of the Governor, Dr. Eric E. Whitaker, Illinois Department of Public Health Director, announced the grants, which include a $40,000 grant to Mount Sinai Medical Center for its program "Women to Women, Taking Care of Yourself, Taking Care of Each Other."

In 2005, Gov. Blagojevich signed a law initiated by state Senate President Emil Jones (D-Chicago) and state Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) to create the Ticket for the Cure. Launched in January 2006, Ticket for the Cure is the nation's first lottery ticket dedicated to helping fund breast cancer early detection, education, research, and patient services throughout the state.

"Early detection is fundamental in the fight against breast cancer. Ticket for the Cure is not only raising awareness about this disease, it is also raising money to educate women about the importance of early detection and the need for routine mammograms and breast exams. I want to thank the people of Illinois for the success of Ticket for the Cure and for the money it has generated to help fight breast cancer," said the Governor.

More than 100 not-for-profit institutions and organizations applied for Ticket for the Cure community grants to fund education and supportive services. Forty-one grants were awarded, ranging from $10,000 to $85,000, during a press conference held Wednesday at Mount Sinai Medical Center. (Grant recipients, including the Logan County Health Department, are listed below.)

"We received many impressive applications detailing programs aimed at increasing early detection awareness, educating women, offering support services and improving the effectiveness of mammography screening," said Dr. Whitaker. "I want to encourage people to continue to play the lottery game Ticket for the Cure because of all of the educational and lifesaving programs funded through ticket sales."

"We are very pleased that the Illinois Department of Public Health has selected Mount Sinai Medical Center as a recipient of funding for women's cancer services," said Alan Channing, CEO Sinai Health System. "The funds will allow us to provide education, screening and diagnostic services to more women in the North and South Lawndale areas. These neighborhoods, comprised respectively of African American and Hispanic women, potentially experience a 28 percent higher mortality rate from breast cancer than other areas although the women who live there are less likely to be diagnosed with breast disease. When you do not have detection, preferably early detection, you cannot be treated. Early detection is very important."

One hundred percent of the proceeds from Ticket for the Cure support programs and research initiatives to help diagnose and treat breast cancer. So far, the ticket has raised more than $3 million. Two million dollars is going to community grants; the remaining money will be used for research grants, which will be announced this summer.

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Also on Wednesday, the Illinois Lottery unveiled the third Ticket for the Cure instant ticket, called "Tic-Tac-Cash," to be available on March 5. This new version of the game will not only keep pace with player demand, but will also increase sales and drive vital contributions to continue funding education, support services and breast cancer research.

"Purchasing a Ticket for the Cure ticket is the perfect way to have fun and join in the fight against breast cancer at the same time," said Illinois Lottery Superintendent Carolyn Adams. "We're encouraging everyone over the age of 18 to continue to support this important cause."

Net revenue from the sale of Ticket for the Cure is deposited into an interest-bearing account in the State Treasury called the Ticket for the Cure Fund. The Illinois General Assembly appropriates this money solely to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), which awards grants to public and private entities in Illinois. The Ticket for the Cure Board, a special advisory board, reviews and approves all grants funded by Ticket for the Cure revenue.

"Ticket for the Cure has made it possible for Illinois community organizations to receive grants that will increase awareness about the risks of breast cancer and knowledge of options available to manage breast cancer," said Leonard Thomas, Chair of the Ticket for the Cure Board. "As a breast cancer husband, I know firsthand how peer support and knowledge of this disease and its treatment options, empowers the survivor and family. "

The Ticket for the Cure Board in conjunction with IDPH set parameters for governing the number and size of grants awarded, based upon the amount of money generated each year through the sale of tickets.

For more information on the Ticket for the Cure, please visit www.illinoislottery.com.

Women can find out how to get breast and cervical cancer screenings and treatment through Governor Blagojevich's Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program by logging on to www.cancerscreening.illinois.gov. For more information on women's health and programs visit www.idph.state.il.us or call the Women's Health-Line at 888-522-1282. For TTY (hearing-impaired use only) call 800-547-0466.

[Text copied from file received from the Illinois Office of Communication and Information]

Illinois Department of Public Health
Office of Women's Health
Ticket for the Cure -- Community Grant Program

(CHD -- County Health Department)

Organization

City

Amount Funded

Advocate Health & Hospital Corp.

Oak Brook

30,000.00

Alliance for Community Peace

Chicago

60,000.00

Arab-American Family Services

Chicago

50,000.00

Asian Human Services, Inc.

Chicago

45,000.00

U of I Extension -- Jefferson Co.

Mt. Vernon

36,000.00

U of I Extension -- Cook Co.

Matteson

20,000.00

Bureau/Putnam CHD

Princeton

25,000.00

City Lights Community Outreach Corp

Chicago

40,000.00

Coles CHD

Mattoon

25,000.00

Decatur Memorial Hospital

Decatur

70,000.00

Egyptian Health Department

Eldorado

75,000.00

GDT Academy, Inc.

Chicago

60,000.00

Hamdard Center for Health & Human Services

Chicago

50,000.00

Illinois Migrant Council

Chicago

70,000.00

Jasper CHD

Newton

14,000.00

Korean American Comm. Services

Chicago

50,000.00

Lake CHD

Waukegan

60,000.00

Livingston CHD

Pontiac

40,000.00

Logan CHD

Lincoln

60,000.00

McDonough CHD

Macomb

17,000.00

McLean CHD

Bloomington

32,000.00

Menard CHD

Petersburg

10,000.00

Mercer CHD

Aledo

18,000.00

Mercer County Hospital

Aledo

18,000.00

Mt. Sinai Hospital Medical Center

Chicago

40,000.00

Northwestern Memorial Hospital

Chicago

85,000.00

OSF St. Francis Medical Center

Peoria

60,000.00

Provena Health

Chicago

80,000.00

Rehab Institute of Chicago, Women w/Disabilities

Chicago

80,000.00

Michael Reese Hospital

Chicago

50,000.00

Richland Memorial Hospital

Olney

70,000.00

Salem Township Hospital

Salem

40,000.00

Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center

Mattoon

60,000.00

Silver Cross Hospital

Joliet

25,000.00

St. Clair CHD

Belleville

75,000.00

St. Mary's Hosp/Little Egypt BCCP

Centralia

85,000.00

Stephenson CHD

Freeport

70,000.00

Tazewell CHD

Tremont

75,000.00

VNA of Fox Valley

Aurora

50,000.00

White Crane Wellness Center

Chicago

40,000.00

Whiteside CHD

Morrison

40,000.00

 

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