PRESIDENT'S CORNER
Pat Halpin-Murphy
President and Founder

INCOME TAX CHECK-OFF

It's income tax time again, and the PBCC held a press conference at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania to publicize this year's Income Tax Check-Off for Breast and Cervical Cancer Research campaign. 

John H. Glick, MD, (above) PBCC board member and VP and Associate Dean for Resource Development at the Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute at Penn, and Penn grant recipient  Barry Cooperman, PhD, spoke about the importance of the Income Tax Check-Off grants.  Researchers Drs. Judy Quong of Thomas Jefferson University and Raghbir Athwal of Temple University, representing the other five grant recipients, also attended.

We are grateful to Ed Mahlman, Chief Marketing Officer of Philadelphia Newspapers, for The Philadelphia Inquirer donation of a full-page ad promoting the Income Tax Check-Off.  Ed also spoke, sharing his personal story of losing his sister to breast cancer twenty years ago.

Representative Jim Roebuck, who represents Penn in the legislature, also joined us to show his support.

The Income Tax Check-Off for Breast and Cervical Cancer Research is the most popular refund donation option in PA, having raised $2 million since its inception.   The overwhelming response to this initiative demonstrates just how important finding a cure for breast and cervical cancer is to the people of Pennsylvania. 

Click here or the graphic above to watch a brief 6abc video clip of the press conference.

Pretty in Pink Luncheon and Fashion Show

Are you looking for something special to do with Mom to celebrate Mother's Day?  Why not treat mom and yourself to a fabulous luncheon and fashion show at Doneckers Restaurant in Ephrata?  Join us on Sunday, May 4, at 1:00 pm and watch as the winner of our "Makeover for Mom" contest is announced, all while enjoying fine fashions and gourmet food from Doneckers and fantastic silent auction items.  Tickets for this fundraiser are $45 each or $70 for two and are available by calling 717-738-9649.   All proceeds from this event benefit the PBCC.  Click for more details.

Events Calendar

Conference Attendees Love Our Exhibit Hall

Does your company have a product or service of interest to breast cancer survivors and medical professionals?  Or gift items like jewelry you'd like to see on display to hundreds of our conference attendees in October?  Then you should consider becoming an exhibitor at our annual conference.  Exhibit space includes a 6' table, 2 chairs, and 2 complimentary registrations (including lunch) and costs $350.  Download the application here or call Dolores Magro at 610-622-3390 if you have questions.

Fundraiser of the Month
4th Annual "Live Like You Were Dying" Benefit Dance Recital

For the fourth year in a row, super-talented high school student Jonathan Daulby (shown above center with the PBCC's Kim Eubanks and Heather Hibshman) organized and danced in a benefit recital to raise awareness and money for the PBCC.   This year's show was the best yet with over 25 groups and solists performing for a full crowd at the State Theatre in downtown State College.  At this time,  proceeds are still being tallied, but we anticipate that this event will have raised over $13,000 in four years!   Way to go Jonathan and everyone who helped make this such a fun, profitable event for four years running.  We wish you all the best in your future as a professional dancer!

Visit our Grassroots Partners webpage for more photos of this and other recent events.

(Below: Heather with some young dancers from Centre Dance, who performed to "Knock on Wood".)

Many women, and many healthcare providers, are unaware of the free treatment available to women diagnosed with breast cancer without insurance coverage through the Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention and Treatment Program.  The PBCC is committed to changing that by conducting seminars in all regions of the state throughout the year.

The seminar features speakers from the PA Department of Public Welfare, the PA Department of Health, the PA Health Law Project and the PBCC, all experts on the treatment program.

The Wilkes-Barre seminar is hosted by the PBCC and made possible thanks to the generous support of BlueCross of Northeastern PA, as well as the Northeast Regional Cancer Institute.

If you are interested in attending this educational seminar, please contact Heather Hibshman at 800-377-8828 x 102 or heather@pabreastcancer.org by April 18. 

PATIENT ADVOCACY RESOURCES

Do you know about the PA Insurance Department and what they can do for you?  The Insurance Department is a wonderful resource, providing answers to insurance-related questions.  Call for help at 717-787-2317, or at the toll-free automated hotline at 877-881-6388.  The PA Insurance Department staff is knowledgeable, helpful and very caring.  Their website covers a wide range of coverage topics, and you can submit questions or complaints online.

And remember, you can download the PBCC's insurance guidebook, "Breast Cancer: Covered or Not?" from our website.  

The PBCC is working with the Pennsylvania Association of Community Bankers to hold charity homerun derbies in all eleven of the state's minor league baseball stadiums.  We need 20 volunteers at each of the eleven events throughout the state.  Wouldn't volunteering at this event be a great outing for your family?  Or a community service project for your men's or women's group?  Picture yourself shagging balls in the outfield, assisting with team lineups, checking in team members, or helping the PBCC wherever needed. 

We particularly need help in Washington, Williamsport, State College, Altoona, Erie and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, though volunteer positions are still available at all locations.  Please visit www.pahomerunderby.org for a schedule of events.   

Volunteers will be accepted on a first come, first served basis.  Visit www.pahomerunderby.org to sign up to play, sponsor, attend or volunteer.  Play ball!




PAINT THE RINK PINK - A HAT TRICK AGAINST BREAST CANCER
Come Meet the Hanson Brothers
Saturday, May 3
5:00 pm
Twin Ponds East

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