2020 PINK AID GRANTEES
Partner Organizations Delivering on the Pink Aid Mission
If you need help with free breast cancer screening or are a breast cancer patient in need, please contact our grant recipients to learn more about services available.
Ann’s Place
Danbury, CT, serving Fairfield, New Haven & Litchfield Counties
Pink Aid is funding a bilingual social worker to conduct outreach and education to under-served communities, a children’s therapeutic clinician, family program expenses and transportation for breast cancer patients. Contact: Su Murdock at (203) 790 6368 or Email: su@annsplace.org
BCEAF
Statewide
The BCEAF directly pays household expenses such as utilities, mortgage, rent and more for underserved women undergoing breast cancer treatment. Contact: Shirley Freifeld at (203) 505-5796, or Email: email@bceaf.org
Cancer Care Inc.
Fairfield County
Pink Aid is funding an outreach program providing breast health education and navigation for free screenings to underserved communities. Pink Aid is also funding a financial assistance program for these patients. Contact: Kathy Nugent, LCSW, Email: knugent@cancercare.org or (201) 301 6809
Charlotte Hungerford Hospital
Northwest Connecticut
Pink Aid is supporting new grantee Charlotte Hungerford Hospital’s Pink Rose Program and Pink Rose fund to provide 20 ultrasounds and 8 diagnostic mammograms to patients with demonstrated financial need. Contact Tammy Rouleau, RN (860) 496-6819 tammy.rouleau@hhchealth.org
Connecticut Cancer Foundation
New London, CT with statewide reach
Connecticut Cancer Foundation provides financial assistance to cancer patients. Pink Aid is funding their Grant Recipient Program to provide up to $500 in financial aid to breast cancer patients. Contact: Jane G. Ellis at (860) 388-0788 or Janeellis@ctcancerfoundation.org
Danbury Hospital
Greater Danbury, CT
Pink Aid’s grant will provide breast cancer screening and diagnostic testing , help fund a financial aid navigator, and provide food and gas cards for breast cancer patients. Contact: Amy DePaola 203 739 7382 Email: amy.depaolo@nuvancehealth.org
Day Kimball Healthcare
Greater Danbury, CT Area
Pink Aid’s grant will be used for the Day Kimball Homemakers program, to provide at-home non-medical healthcare, personal and home care as well
as transportation for patient’s needs. Contact Crystal Auger, Oncology Nurse Navigator: CAuger@daykimball.org 860.928.6541, ext. 3848
Greenwich Hospital Yale New Haven Health
Greenwich Area
Greenwich Hospital will use our grant to provide under-served breast cancer patients with gift cards for recovery items, including lymphodema sleeves, wigs and skin cream for radiation burn. Contact: Kristine Capretti, Oncology Program Director, kristina.capretti@greenwichhospital.org
Griffin Hospital
Derby, CT, Serving the lower Naugatuck Valley region
Pink Aid is helping to fund this initiative with financial assistance to support diagnostic testing for women who can’t meet their deductibles and might otherwise forego these tests. Contact: Christine Cooper at (203) 732 1599 or Email: ccooper@griffinhealth.org
Hartford Hospital
Greater Hartford, CT
Pink Aid is continuing to partner with Hartford Hospital’s robust Mobile Mammo Program by funding mammograms, diagnostic screenings to their population in need. Contact: Karen Weingrod at (860)-972-1265 or Email: karen.weingrod@hhccealth.org
Hospital of Central Connecticut
Greater New Britain Area
New grantee, Hospital of Central Connecticut, will utilize Pink Aid funds to provide mammograms and ultrasounds to their underserved population. Contact: Denise Jones-Gagne, Community Program & Outreach Organizer Email: denise.jones.gagne@hhchealth.org
Middlesex Hospital
Middletown, CT
Pink Aid is helping to fund a financial advocate, providing financial aid and funding head coverings for their Dignity in Details initiative. Contact: Amber Kapoor, (860)-358-2023 or Email: amber.kapoor@midhosp.org
Necessities
Statewide
Survivor Maureen Lutz makes patented bags for mastectomy patients, an underserved group, with all the “necessities” one wouldn’t normally think of including hand-sewn pillows to ease pressure under the arms. Contact: Maureen Lutz at (203) 561-6038, or Email: maureen@necessitiesbag.org
Norma Pfriem Breast Center at Bridgeport Hospital
Greater Bridgeport, CT Area
Pink Aid’s grant will fund cold cap therapy for 10 patients, screening and diagnostic testing, as well as wigs, prosthetics, wellness services and counseling and food cards to underserved breast cancer patients. Contact: Donna Twist at (203) 255-5300 or Email: Donna.Twist@bpthosp.org
Norwalk Hospital
Greater Norwalk, CT Area
Pink Aid is continuing to support Norwalk Hospital’s Cold Therapy for Taxane Chemotherapy Program, a treatment to help prevent hair loss during chemotherapy. Contact: Lorraine Sautner (203) 855 3517 or Email: lorraine.sautner@wchn.org
Pink Aid Pink Purse
Statewide
If you are currently in treatment for breast cancer and are unable to pay essential household expenses, such as rent or utility bills. Apply to Pink Aid’s Pink Purse or call 1-844-PinkAid.
Pink Aid Warrior Connection
Statewide
Pink Aid’s Warrior Connection is a supportive group of breast cancer survivors. If you are newly diagnosed and don’t know where to turn, we will “match” you with a survivor that has had a similar diagnosis to help navigate you to find medical, financial and emotional support. Contact: Amy Katz amyk@pinkaid.org or Tammy Zelkowitz tammyz@pinkaid.org
The Pink Chair Project
Fairfield, Litchfield and lower New Haven Counties
Pink Aid is funding new grant partner the Pink Chair Project to help them used towards the costs of providing reclining chairs to the homes of breast cancer patients to make them more comfortable during treatment. Contact Cara Spath at (203) 592-1287 or Email: pinkchairproject@gmail.com
Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center
Serving Greater Hartford, CT
Pink Aid’s grant will provide funding for screening and diagnostic and genetic testing, and is helping to fund the hospital’s Integrative Medicine Therapies program. Contact: Sharon O’Brien (860) 714 7451 or Email: sobrien@stfranciscare.org
or Laura Lyon (860) 485 5748 or Email: laura.lyon@trinityhealthofne.org
Saint Mary’s Hospital Foundation, Trinity Health of New England
Waterbury, serving New Haven County
Pink Aid’s grant will provide transportation to and from breast cancer treatment to patients in the large geography of communities they serve. Contact: Laura Lyon Email: laura.lyon@trinityhealthofne.org
St. Vincent’s Medical Center Foundation
Greater Bridgeport, CT Area
Pink Aid is funding free screenings and diagnostic testing as well as financial assistance and compassionate services for underserved breast cancer patients. For SWIM Across the Sound/Pink Aid compassionate services, Contact: Lyn Fine-McCarthy at (203) 576-6158 or email lyn.mccarthy@hhchealth.org
Stamford Hospital
Stamford, CT
Supporting the Breast Cancer Grant Program, Pink Aid funds will provide screening mammograms, ultrasounds and MRI’s. Pink Aid is also funding the purchase of durable goods for women in need. Contact: Lorrie Thanas (203) 667 0931 or Email: lthanas@stamhealth.org
Support Connection
Statewide
Pink Aid funds the Support Connection’s peer hotline for all Connecticut residents. Their team of survivor/peer counselors provides emotional support and navigational help M-F, 9am-5pm. Contact: Barbara Cervoni (914) 962 6402 or Email: Barbara.cervoni@supportconnection.org
Yale-New Haven Hospital
Greater New Haven, CT Area
Yale New Haven Hospital continues its Pink Aid Compassionate Care Program for Breast Cancer Patients at the Joel Smilow Breast Boutique, which will fund wigs, prosthesis, lymphedema sleeves and other recovery necessities and food cards. Contact: Teren Basel teren.basel@ynhh.org
Adelphi NY Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline and Support Program
Run by the Adelphi University School of Social Work, this program provides Bilingual counseling, patient navigation and support services to underserved women receiving care for breast cancer at Nassau County University Medical Center, and referrals from other Long Island hospitals such as Mercy Medical Center, Northwell Health, St. Francis Hospital and NY Winthrop. Pink Aid funds will also provide assistance with transportation, food cards, wigs, prostheses and household bills for patients in need. Contact: Angela Papalia, LMSW, at 516 877-4329 or email apapalia@adelphi.edu.
Babylon Breast Cancer Coalition
In its second year of funding from Pink Aid, this well-established coalition has been helping women in the large coverage area of Babylon Township since 1993. Pink Aid’s grant will support the BBCC’s Lend a Helping Hand Program, providing non-medical financial assistance to underserved patients, including housing and utility bill payments, housekeeping, delivery of meals and transportation to and from treatment. Contact: Karen Kunkel at 631-893-4110 or email BBCCest1993@aol.com.
Casting for Recovery
Casting for Recovery provides unique wellness retreats that combine breast cancer education and peer support with the therapeutic sport of fly fishing. Pink Aid’s grant will fund participation costs for three women in need, selected by special lottery for the Long Island retreat in September, 2018. In partnership with Pink Aid, a Bilingual application is now also available. Contact: Erika Michanowicz at 412.863.6584 or email erika.michanowicz@castingforrecovery.org.
Coalition for Women’s Cancers at Southampton Hospital
This coalition has been making a difference in the lives of many East End women for more than 20 years. Their mission is to create and sustain a supportive network in the community for women affected by breast cancer. With Pink Aid funds, the CWC will continue offering financial support, strength and hope to women in the Towns of East Hampton, Southampton, Shelter Island and the Shinnecock Indian Reservation. Contact: Susan Barry Roden at 631-726-8715 or email sroden@cwcshh.org.
Dolan Family Health Center
This freestanding primary care center provides comprehensive care, including adult medicine, obstetrics/gynecology and pediatric services to the medically underserved residents of Northwest Suffolk County. In its third consecutive year of funding, Pink Aid’s 2017 grant will again support the “Pink Aid Program,” which to date has provided over 700 free breast cancer screenings to local, uninsured women. Contact: Kathy Giffuni, RN at 631-425-5240 or email kgiffuni@northwell.edu.
Islip Breast Cancer Coalition
Women in need battling breast cancer often find that getting to and from treatment can be an enormous financial burden. Pink Aid’s grant to the Islip Breast Cancer Coalition will help women in their local area get to and from medical appointments such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy and provide financial assistance for housing and utilities, grocery cards, and personal needs such as wigs, lymphedema sleeves and prostheses. Contact: Georgie Crowley at 631-968-7424 or email info@islipbreastcancer.com.
Long Island Community Hospital
Formerly Brookhaven Memorial Hospital, this community hospital’s survivorship program assists a large in-need population on the eastern end of Long Island. Pink Aid’s grant will provide patients who qualify for assistance with wigs, lymphedema sleeves, meal delivery, grocery cards, and transportation to and from treatment. Contact: Rachel E. Schnabl, LMSW, Vice President, Chief Development Officer at 631.654.7350 or Email RSchnabl@LIcommunityhospital.org
Lucia’s Angels
Lucia’s Angels was created in loving memory of a breast cancer patient whose dying wish was to help other women and their families the kind of love and support she had during her toughest time. Lucia’s Angels provides assistance to women and families going through the final stages of breast cancer. Pink Aid funds will be used to give stage 4 breast cancer patients peace of mind knowing that they can receive assistance for non-medical costs to ease their financial burdens. Contact: Stacy Quarty at 631-204-9331 or email stacy@luciasangels.org.
Maurer Foundation for Breast Health Education
Founded by breast surgeon Dr. Virginia Maurer in 1995, the Maurer Foundation is a grass roots organization focused on breast health education, early detection and risk reduction. Utilizing the “Mammacare” program, Maurer Foundation Educators teach proper self exam methods. This 2018 grant marks the fourth year of Pink Aid’s partnership in the Foundation’s Bilingual Outreach Program, promoting breast health awareness to uninsured and lower socioeconomic across Long Island. Contact: Eileen Pillitteri at 631-524-5156 or email epillitteri@maurerfoundation.org.
Memorial Sloan Cancer Center
Pink Aid is proud to partner with Memorial Sloan Cancer Center with their Food to Overcome Disparities Program (FOOD). The program is a hospital-based pantry program designed to address food insecurity among cancer patients in active treatment. Contact: Mary Reed-Holman at 646-227-7173 or at reedholm@mskcc.org
Mercy Medical Center
In 2017, Pink Aid’s first year of partnership with Mercy Medical Center provided over 100 free mammograms to women who would not normally have access to such critical, regular screenings. This year, Pink Aid’s funding will further support the Breast Cancer Survivorship Program’s outreach, potentially doubling the number of free screenings they will be able to offer uninsured patients. Located in Rockville Center, Mercy is a member of the Catholic Health Services of Long Island. Contact: Temra Taylor at 516-705-1399 or email temra.taylor@chsli.org.
Nassau Health Care
In its first year of partnership with Pink Aid, Nassau Health Care Corporation will provide breast cancer screenings at Nassau University Medical center to uninsured/underinsured women ages 40-49 that are not covered under the Nassau Cancer Services Program. Contact Sofia Rubinstein, MD, Director of Research & Sponsored Programs at 516-572-6047 or Email srubinst@numc.edu
Northwell Health Cancer Institute Breast Cancer Hardship Fund
Pink Aid is proud to partner with Long Island’s largest health system, funding the third year of Northwell’s “Pink Aid Breast Cancer Hardship Fund.” This Fund provides non-medical financial assistance to low-income residents facing barriers to breast cancer care. Contact: Sara Parise at 516-734-8217 or email sparise@northwell.edu.
Peconic Bay Medical Center
The largest hospital on Long Island’s East End and the Suffolk County hub for the NYS Department of Health’s Cancer Services Program, Peconic Bay provides medical care to a large underserved population across the county’s 2,200 square miles. In its second year, the “Pink Aid Hardship Fund” will again provide transportation to and from treatment, post-surgical recovery garments, wigs, groceries and financial assistance to breast cancer patients in need. In addition, Pink Aid funds will support the addition of a bilingual, breast cancer-specific navigation coordinator. Contact: Maureen O’Connor at 631-548-6320 ext 109 or email moconnor@pbmchealth.org.
Rockville Centre Breast Cancer Coalition
Rockville Centre Breast Cancer Coalition provides support services to those in their community in treatment for breast cancer. In its first year of partnership with Pink Aid, 2019 funding will support non-medical expenses such as transportation to and from treatment, meal delivery, household expenses and child care. Contact: Peg McDonald, Co-President at 516-782-3496 or Erin O’Sullivan, Co-President at 516-884-3923 or Email info@rvcbcc.org
Stony Brook Foundation
Pink Aid will be partnering with the Stony Brook Foundation to help fund their Circle of Wellness Program. This program will focus on the aftermath and potential side effects of breast cancer treatment. Funding will support non-medical expenses such as housecleaning, lymphedema garments, and wigs. Contact: Linda Bily, Director – Cancer Patient Advocacy & Community Outreach, 631-638-0004 or Email Linda.Billy@stonybrookmedicine.edu
Strength for Life
Strength for Life provides exercise classes and weekend wellness retreats for breast cancer patients and survivors to enhance the recovery process. In its second year of partnership with Pink Aid, 2018 funding will support weekly exercise classes for underserved women in Bay Shore and Huntington Station, including new Yoga classes specifically designed for cancer patients and survivors. In addition, Pink Aid funding will allow 20 uninsured/underinsured women to attend one of the organization’s annual Long Island retreats. Contact: Debra Hughes at 631-882-3387 or Email strengthforlife@optonline.net.
West Islip Breast Cancer Coalition
West Islip Breast Cancer Coalition is a grassroots organization that provides support services for Long Island women in treatment for breast cancer. Pink Aid’s grant will support their “Lend A Helping Hand” program, which offers wigs, prostheses and post-op garments, transportation, child care, food, house cleaning and financial assistance to women in need. Contact: Kathy Corbett at 631-669-7770 or email info@wibcc.org.
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