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YWCA
OF LAKE COUNTY RECEIVES $30,000 CHALLENGE GRANT FROM BAXTER INTERNATIONAL
FOUNDATION
Grant to Support
Preventative Health-Care Efforts for Women in Lake County
WAUKEGAN, Ill., June
18, 2002 -- The Baxter International Foundation, the philanthropic arm
of Baxter International Inc., has awarded a challenge grant to support
the women's health program at the YWCA of Lake County. The foundation
will match contributions to the program, dollar-for-dollar, up to $30,000.
The YWCA's women's health program reaches out to women in North Chicago,
Waukegan and Zion, which have been identified as having medically underserved
populations. The program helps break down the obstacles to getting preventive
health care, such as financial constraints, lack of transportation, language
barriers and lack of awareness. The Baxter International Foundation grant
will enable the YWCA to add new program components on cardiovascular disease
and osteoporosis.
While studies show that prevention is generally the best medicine for
heart disease and osteoporosis, people who are uninsured or underinsured
are less likely to seek preventive care and often wait to see a physician
until health problems become acute. This is true for many women in Lake
County.
"What makes
this project successful is its grassroots approach. We go to places where
women congregate, such as churches, grocery stores and community centers,
and we connect with them one-on-one," said Elizabeth Forbrich, executive
director, YWCA of Lake County. "Since we are a women's organization,
women often feel comfortable opening up to us."
The cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis segments of the program will
be modeled after the YWCA of Lake County's successful ENCOREplus Breast
and Cervical Cancer Education and Screening Program, which was launched
in 1995. Last year, the program reached 700 women with direct educational
presentations, assisted 521 women in getting low-cost or free mammograms,
helped 128 women get clinical breast examinations and reached thousands
of women through public-awareness campaigns.
The Baxter International Foundation grant will fund educational components
and coordination of screenings, referrals and follow up for the new cardiovascular
disease and osteoporosis program components, two diseases whose health
threats are often underestimated by women. Cardiovascular disease claims
almost 10 times as many female lives as breast cancer does, yet fewer
than 10 percent of women view this as a serious health threat. Osteoporosis
also is a significant cause of death and disability. For example, a woman's
risk of hip fracture is equal to her combined risk of breast, uterine
and ovarian cancer.
"We welcome the opportunity to support the YWCA of Lake County as
they build on their successful health-education outreach program and work
to improve the long-term health of their community," said Patricia
Morgan, executive director of The Baxter International Foundation.
The YWCA of Lake
County was established in 1922. The organization served more than 19,000
Lake County residents in 2001 through six main programs. In addition to
the women's health program, the YWCA offers education and training for
child care providers and child care referrals, a health-education program
for teen girls and young women, a program that introduces girls to careers
in information technology, a youth group that works to combat racism,
violence and hate, and before and after school child care. For information
on the YWCA of Lake County call (847) 662-4247.
As the philanthropic arm of Baxter International Inc., The Baxter International
Foundation helps to increase access to health care in the United States
and other countries. In 2001, foundation grants totaling $4.8 million
improved access to care for children, the uninsured and the elderly, helped
prevent child abuse and neglect, promoted health education, expanded education
opportunities for health-care providers, and helped victims of global
disasters.
Baxter International Inc. a global health care company that, through its
subsidiaries, provides critical therapies for people with life-threatening
conditions. Baxter's bioscience, medication delivery and renal products
and services are used to treat patients with some of the most challenging
medical conditions, including cancer, hemophilia, immune deficiencies,
infectious diseases, kidney disease and trauma. Baxter employs more than
4,500 people in Illinois at its facilities in Northern Illinois.
FOR ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION:
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- Media Contacts:
- Tanya Tyska, Baxter, 847-948-3256
Marty Williams, YWCA Lake County, 847-662-4247
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