October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and The Blue Ribbon Foundation of Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania is funding a program that provides free breast cancer screenings for un/underinsured women in Carbon County.

The recent $9,975 Blue Ribbon Foundation grant was awarded to Palmerton Hospital, part of Blue Mountain Health System, to enable 95 at-risk women referred by local physicians to receive the screenings in the coming year.Women whose mammograms indicate an abnormality will have access to a free diagnostic ultrasound provided through another funder.If further intervention is needed, participants will be referred to the hospital's charitable care program navigator for assistance.All women screened will also be educated about the importance of yearly screenings, with the goal of no less than 50 percent indicating a willingness to return for future screenings."The annual death rate for breast cancer in Carbon County is higher than both the United States and Pennsylvania rates. However, early detection through routine screening can greatly increase survival rates, improve patient quality of life, and reduce long-term care costs,"said Joe Guardiani, vice president of fund development at Blue Mountain Health System."We are grateful to The Blue Ribbon Foundation for recognizing the importance of removing barriers to screening for the un/underinsured."BCNEPA established its private, nonprofit Blue Ribbon Foundation in 2002 to invest in health education and prevention initiatives that produce measurable health improvements and help manage long-term health costs for the residents of northeastern and north central Pennsylvania. The foundation has accelerated its 2014 grantmaking. The foundation will not be accepting new funding requests for the remainder of this calendar year. Check online at

www.bcnepa.com/Community/BlueRibbon.aspx for future updates.