SAVANNAH — The Susan G. Komen Coastal Georgia Affiliate announced at its annual awards luncheon March 22 that it is awarding a $357,017 for direct community services that will fund breast cancer screening, education, diagnostic services, and patient navigation.

This brings the total investment in our local coastal community to more than $2 million since the affiliate’s inception.

"It often surprises people to learn that support for our affiliate is raised here and stays here," said Aileen Gabbey, the executive director of Komen Coastal Georgia. "Seventy-five percent of funds raised benefit the nine counties we serve, and the remaining 25 percent is devoted to research for a cure."

This year, Komen Coastal Georgia has awarded seven grants to programs in the region. They include: Liberty County Health Department’s BRAVE III Project; Hearts and Hands for Mammograms (Bulloch County); Bulloch County’s Breast Brigade; Effingham Hospital’s Comprehensive Education and Screening Program; and Curtis V. Cooper Mammography (Chatham County).

"Each month in our service area, 12 women are diagnosed with late-stage breast cancer," shared Sarah Denmark, the president of the Komen Coastal Georgia board. "We stress the need for screenings for underserved women in our community because early detection saves lives. The five-year survival rate for early diagnosis is 98 percent."

Komen Coastal Georgia encourages programs designed for screenings and education.

"In the last five years, our affiliate has provided support for over 7,000 screenings," said Julie Schwartz, the affiliate’s mission coordinator. "Our community profile identifies our service area’s needs so that we can reach the women and men most in need of help."

The majority of funding for these community grants is generated through the Savannah Race for the Cure, which is scheduled for April 16 in Savannah’s Ellis Square. For more information about Komen Coastal Georgia and Savannah Race for the Cure, go to www.komencoastalgeorgia.org.