Breast cancer foundations bring together all sorts of alliances of people and organizations to work together in the prevention, recovery, survival, and cure of breast cancer. Foundations have areas of concern that may provide research programs, educational programs, public awareness, policy influence, research grant awards, volunteer organizations, non-profit fundraising, service delivery, patient advocacy, screening procedures, treatment methods, community outreach programs, or support systems.

The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation was started in 1982 and has been a leader in fighting breast cancer ever since. It has a network of national and international Affiliates that promote the Foundation’s goals of eradicating breast cancer as a life-threatening disease. The Komen Foundation Award and Research Grant Program, the Komen Affiliate Grant Program, and the National Toll-Free Breast Care Helpline are some of the programs funded by this breast cancer foundation. (www.komen.org)

The Dr. Susan Love Breast Cancer Research Foundation has a long history also and is dedicated to defeating breast cancer through innovative approaches and through development of educational, advocacy and research programs. Dr. Love’s mission is to “end breast cancer in ten years” through new approaches to breast cancer research that will find ways of preventing women from ever getting the disease. The Foundation recently assembled its National Scientific Advisory Board who will supervise their research programs and guide its grant awards. (www.susanlovemd.org)

The National Breast Cancer Foundation is based in Texas and focuses its goals on saving lives through breast cancer education, increased awareness of breast cancer, early detection of breast cancer and availability of mammograms to many women who could not otherwise afford them. The Foundation has provided funds to M. D. Anderson in Houston for research programs, Hospital San Pablo del Este in Puerto Rico, Free Mobile Mammography Program in New York City. (www.nationalbreastcancer.org)

The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, founded in 1993 by Evelyn Lauder in New York City, dedicates its support to increasing awareness of breast health, preventing the disease and curing it with financial support for genetic and clinical research. In the ten years of its existence, the BCRF has increased its research projects to the point where it will award $18.7 million toward research in 2004-2005. In the December 2004 issue of Money Magazine, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation was named “One of the Best” charities in America, earning this high rating by keeping administrative and funding costs to low levels, and thus allowing this breast cancer foundation to contribute more of its funds to its awareness and research programs. (www.bcrfcure.org)