Blue Cross NC Awards Pretty In Pink Foundation with Another Multi-Year Gift to Provide Uninsured Breast Cancer Patients with Life-Saving Medical Treatment
Blue Cross NC Awards Pretty In Pink Foundation with Another Multi-Year Gift to Provide Uninsured Breast Cancer Patients with Life-Saving Medical Treatment
NEWS RELEASE
Blue Cross NC Media Line: 919-765-3005
Blue Cross NC Online Newsroom: http://mediacenter.bcbsnc.com
Pretty In Pink Foundation: Becky Horn, 919-532-0532, bhorn@prettyinpinkfoundation.org
Blue Cross NC Awards Pretty In Pink Foundation with Another Multi-Year Gift to Provide Uninsured Breast Cancer Patients with Life-Saving Medical Treatment
87 Women and Men Diagnosed with Breast Cancer Across NC to Benefit from the Agreement
For Immediate Release:
RALEIGH, N.C. – Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC) backs Pretty In Pink Foundation’s mission by providing a two-year gift to fund medical treatment for 87 low-income, uninsured North Carolinians with breast cancer. Pretty In Pink Foundation announced the life-saving grant at their annual signature Pink Pumps and Bow Ties gala.
Any resident of North Carolina who is a U.S. citizen, has been diagnosed with breast cancer and meets the household income guidelines, can download an application online. Pretty In Pink Foundation has a primary focus of funding breast cancer treatment after diagnosis, focusing on state citizens who need immediate attention. The funds will be used to pay for surgery, chemotherapy administration and radiation therapy, with an emphasis placed on candidates located in the state’s most economically distressed counties. Pretty In Pink will work together with surgeons, oncologists and radiologists to acquire reduced rates, then use the Blue Cross NC funds to make invoice payments directly to medical service providers, allowing patients to focus on their health rather than financial stress.
“We believe in Pretty In Pink’s mission to help these breast cancer patients overcome a devastating diagnosis, beat this disease and get healthy. This investment is part of our company’s ongoing commitment to support programs that offer more North Carolinians the opportunity to be healthy,” said Cheryl Parquet, Director, Community and Diversity Engagement at Blue Cross NC.
“We’re so grateful to receive this generous gift from Blue Cross NC, which is truly life-saving for many women and men across our state. Most of the breast cancer patients we serve are living paycheck to paycheck and this diagnosis can really put them in financial straits. This gift ensures that they don’t have to decide whether to pay for their chemo or their groceries, and they can receive the treatment they desperately need,” said Becky Horn, Executive Director of Pretty In Pink.
About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina:
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina improves the health and well-being of our customers and communities by providing innovative health care products, services and information to more than 3.9 million members, including approximately 1.1 million served on behalf of other Blue Plans. Since 1933, we have worked to make North Carolina a better place to live through our support of community organizations, programs and events that promote good health. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Visit Blue Cross online at bluecrossnc.com. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.
About Pretty In Pink Foundation:
The mission of Pretty In Pink Foundation is to provide uninsured and underinsured breast cancer patients in North Carolina with financial assistance for quality, life-saving medical treatment. The Foundation works closely with patients’ medical social workers and cancer center charity care to ensure indigent patients have assistance to ease their financial burdens associated with care. Pretty In Pink Foundation was founded in 2004 by Raleigh breast surgeon Dr. Lisa Tolnitch and is headquartered in Raleigh, NC, with an office in Winston-Salem, NC. What began with assisting ten women in Wake County has evolved into helping thousands of women and men throughout North Carolina. www.prettyinpinkfoundation.org
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