Mission In Action

May Focus: Five Grantees Team Up to Deliver Tremendous Empowerment in Allentown


The efforts of five Komen Philadelphia Affiliate Grantees in the Allentown/Lehigh County, PA community are maximizing their impact by pooling their resources to create a seamless breast health network. A model program demonstrating the positive outcomes that can be achieved by teamwork, focus and sharing of resources, the activities of these five grantees were celebrated at a special press event organized by the Komen Philadelphia Affiliate earlier this spring.

 

At the event, Allentown, PA Mayor, Ed Pawlowski, was the picture of awareness in his pink tie and Komen lapel pin when he honored five local organizations, all of whom are 2010 grantees of the Komen Philadelphia Affiliate. On March 25, Mayor Pawlowski emphasized the importance of promoting breast health and early detection, as well as honored these five organizations for working together on behalf of Allentown's citizens:

  • Allentown Health Bureau

  • Lehigh Valley Health Network

  • Sacred Heart Hospital

  • Wellness Community of the Greater Lehigh Valley 

  • YWCA of Bethlehem

 

The Lehigh Valley has a great network of breast health organizations, all of whom have been working together for years. The key facilitator between the community and the hospitals providing services is the Allentown Health Bureau, led by MaryEllen Shiels. At the March 25 event, Shiels, the "glue" holding the team together and a key component of this community, was presented with the "Local Hero" award in recognition of her extraordinary activism.

 

After the Mayor presented the "Local Hero" award, as well as the Komen Philadelphia Affiliate grantee awards, two survivors that have experienced the breast health network in Allentown shared their stories. They were a great representation of the significance of breast cancer awareness and the importance of a seamless breast health network. Jean Gerding, showed how she is able to use the resources funded by the Komen Philadelphia Affiliate in Allentown as an underinsured woman. She was able to receive her yearly examinations without worrying about yet another medical bill to pay.

 

The second survivor, Pat Lockard, spoke of the importance of a survivor group that supported her--as well as many others like her--her through her breast cancer journey. The group made such an impact on her, said that other things in her life get scheduled around her the group; she does not miss it for anything.

 

In addition, Dietz and Watson "Pretty In Pig" piggies are now on the loose in Allentown and throughout Lehigh County. The pink Komen fundraising piggy banks were a big hit at the March event, and led to some friendly fundraising competition between the organizations. Shiels emphasized the "power of the pig" in her speech, reiterating the idea that the more fundraising that occurs, the more money available to possibly come back to the community.

 

 

Importance & Impact of the Press Event


In the 2009 Community Profile conducted by the Komen Philadelphia Affiliate, it was demonstrated that the City of Allentown/Lehigh County was a key focus area for raising awareness and increasing screening rates in the Latina community. One of the achievements of the March event was to highlight the needs in this community, as well as to show how 1) The Affiliate is empowering the people of the community, and 2) the people of the community can help their own cause by fundraising for The Affiliate.

 

The efforts by the organizations in Allentown, including the March 25 event, provide an excellent model for others--demonstrating the positive outcomes of a seamless breast health network. The success of the organizations is visible by their exceptional communication with one another and their drive to improve the health of their community. However, even with the great work they are doing together, they are currently not quite embracing the entire Latina community. And so, true to their reputation for steadfast devotion and passion for their mission, after the press conference, the organizations convened a special meeting to define a strategy. At this meeting, each organization presented its ideas for creating a unified plan for a broader reach in the Latina community and before the meeting was ended, the group had a solid outline of action items to attract greater attention to the issues and improve rates of screening.

 

With the press event being aired on the local news station, as well as the local Spanish station, this event marks the first of many efforts of The Affiliate and the Allentown Health Bureau group to attract the attention of the Latina population, as well as others in need of education and services. Now, word is starting to spread throughout the community about the breast health services available.

 

Overall, this event shed light on the great things happening in the Allentown/Lehigh County community's breast cancer movement.  Hosting an event honoring the organizations keeps things top of mind, while showing The Affiliate's appreciation for their hard work and dedication.  The Affiliate will continue to initiate similar events--allowing Grantees to attend Philadelphia-based events, as well as take part in events that communicate important messages "on the home front."

 

Pictured: Breast cancer survivor, Jean Gerding shares her story with the compassionate support of MaryEllen Shiels of the Allentown Health Bureau.