Susan G. Komen® North Texas (based in Plano, Texas) and Susan G. Komen® Wichita Falls (based in Wichita Falls) announced today that they are joining forces and will operate moving forward as one entity. As part of this effort, the new Susan G. Komen North Texas will also expand their reach to include four additional counties – Archer, Baylor, Clay and Wilbarger counties – that previously were not served by a Komen Affiliate.
“We are excited about the potential for improved support and increased focus on fulfilling our mission this merger provides,” said Mary Frances Hoover, executive director of the new Komen North Texas. “Together, our two Komen Affiliates have provided funding for breast health education, screening, and treatment services for area women and men for a combined 40 years. During that time, we have enabled thousands of North Texans to receive life-saving access to breast health programs, saving hundreds of lives. As proud as we are about what we have accomplished separately, we are confident that working together we can increase that impact. We truly have become the “North Texas” Affiliate.”
During the past year, Komen North Texas and Komen Wichita Falls have worked closely together, along with community partners, on a plan to increase efficiencies and better serve the women and men of North Texas who desperately need the support of Susan G. Komen. As a result of those discussions, Komen Wichita Falls (serving Wichita County) and Komen North Texas (serving Collin, Cooke, Denton, Fannin, Grayson, Hunt, Montague and Wise counties) have agreed to join forces under the name Susan G. Komen® North Texas.
Since its inception in 1999, Komen Wichita Falls has remained an entirely volunteer-based Affiliate – the only entirely volunteer-based Affiliate remaining in the Komen network. Its success at grassroots fundraising, including the Wichita Falls Race for the Cure, and its work to disseminate vital breast health education, such as the importance of early detection, has been paramount in improving the breast health landscape in Wichita County. “Pairing that success with the additional resources and full time professional staff support that Komen North Texas can provide will enable our volunteers to focus on what they do best, while providing our supporters with a high level of accountability and operational efficiency,” said Mark Henderson, Wichita Falls Race for the Cure Chair.
Expansion of Komen Reach into Archer, Baylor, Clay and Wilbarger Counties
In addition to the counties currently serviced by the two Affiliates, the new Komen North Texas will expand its support to women and men in Archer, Baylor, Clay and Wilbarger counties. Breast health services are extremely limited in these counties, and were not previously associated with a Komen Affiliate. As a result, many of the uninsured and underinsured residents in these counties have sought care in Wichita County at the Community Healthcare Center, a longtime Komen grantee. For several years Komen Wichita Falls and the Community Healthcare Center have worked with local health care providers in the four additional counties to help fill the gap. These established partnerships will prove invaluable as Komen seeks to increase its support into these rural areas. Additionally, by modifying its existing rural outreach programs, Komen North Texas can immediately impact education and awareness in these communities, with the goal of increasing early detection.
“We strongly believe that by taking this step, we are better serving North Texans and doing the most good with the money given to us by sponsors, donors, and fundraisers,” said Hoover. “We’ve taken measures to ensure that this operational consolidation doesn’t change the things that matter most to our supporters.” For example:
- Donations will still fund local breast health programs and organizations.
- Up to 75% of net proceeds will continue to fund local breast health education, screening, and treatment programs – these grants will continue to be central to our mission.
- 25% of net proceeds will continue to be contributed to the national Research and Training Grants program, which invests in the best research to help find the cures for breast cancer.
- There will still be a Wichita Falls Race for the Cure® (along with the Plano Race for the Cure® and Denton Race for the Cure®).
- The Komen grants review process will remain the same: an independent panel of community leaders will review grants applications and determine the best way to fund Komen North Texas’ priority areas for where breast health program funding is needed.
“Each Susan G. Komen Affiliate was started by a few, caring people who wanted to make a difference in their communities. Build on this foundation of generosity, strength, determination and passion for the cause, we look toward a bright future in which we expand our pink footprint to help everyone in North Texas detect and beat breast cancer,” concluded Hoover.
ABOUT SUSAN G. KOMEN® AND KOMEN NORTH TEXAS
Susan G. Komen is the world’s largest breast cancer organization, funding more breast cancer research than any other nonprofit while providing real-time help to those facing the disease. Komen was founded by Nancy G. Brinker, who promised her sister, Susan G. Komen, that she would end the disease that claimed Suzy’s life. Komen North Texas is working to better the lives of those facing breast cancer in the local community. Through events like the Race for the Cure®, Komen North Texas has invested $13 million in community breast health programs in its 13-county service area and has helped contribute to the more than $800 million invested globally in research. For more information, call 972-378-4808 or visit www.komennorthtexas.org.