From Our Hearts donates $50,000 to Partners for Breast Cancer Care
By ED FRANKS
Mary Scott, president of From Our Hearts on Pine Island, presented a check for $50,000 to Partners for Breast Cancer Care, Inc., a non-profit organization. “This is our largest donation ever,” president Mary Scott said. “And it feels wonderful that they will make use of it. This generous donation is primarily from funds raised at the annual BreastFest walk which takes place each March.”
“There is a great resource available to residents of the greater Pine Island area and yet many may not be aware of it,” Scott said. “From Our Hearts, Inc. consists of a small group of volunteer Pine Island residents whose only focus is to raise funds to provide breast cancer screening and treatment for any qualified Pine Island resident who is in need of financial assistance.”
The organization began in 2001 when a group of Pine Island residents raised money to send a local resident to a 60 mile Breast Cancer Walk. Back in the days when there were musicians playing at the Island Hardware store, they ‘passed the hat’ and raised the money for the trip. The next year, the first annual BreastFest was held at St. James Civic Association. And then, From Our Hearts was born.
From Our Hearts mission is to provide no cost breast cancer screening and diagnostic testing for those Pine Island residents who qualify. They are united with Partners for Breast Cancer Care, Inc., a non-profit organization relying on grants and donations, who facilitates the qualification process. Partners uses money granted from From Our Hearts that is designated to support only Pine Island residents. If someone is diagnosed with breast cancer they in turn work with Regional Cancer Center/Lee Memorial Health System to provide treatment, at no cost to the client.
Since this three way partnership began, From Our Hearts has granted over $350,000 to these organizations and has served over 1500 clients. Even if you do not qualify for free screening and diagnosis, Partners and Regional Cancer Center/Lee Memorial Health System can help find a program that may work for you.
“Do not forgo a mammogram because you think you can’t afford it,” Scott said. “We encourage you to contact FOH or Partners to get qualified for a free mammogram or to get help finding support that can help. If you qualify for From Our Hearts funding then any screening will be done at no cost to you.”
Please call today to get started on your mammogram (239) 233-7437. If you know someone who needs our help please give this information to them.
Be sure to visit www.fromourheart.org for additional resources. This isa website filled with valuable information. The From Our Hearts group meets the third Tuesday of each month (excluding July and August) at 6:00pm at the fire station in Pine Island Center. Come to a meeting to see what they are all about. New members are always welcome!
You can support From Our Hearts through Amazon Smiles who donates .5% of all purchases to the organization. When you make a purchase on Amazon be sure to go to smile.amazon.com/ and select From Our Hearts, Inc., with the location of Cape Coral.