Thanks to Georgia drivers who purchased breast cancer awareness license plates in the last year, Horizons has won a two-year grant for its breast cancer and education program. Designed to reduce breast cancer disparities by increasing breast cancer screenings and education among low-income, uninsured women, the program will be funded in the first year of the grant with $29,000.00 from the sale of Georgia’s breast cancer license plates.

“With this grant, we are able to continue to provide critical breast cancer prevention services to under- and uninsured women in our area,” said Cynthia Merchant, CEO of Horizons. “Breast cancer is one of the most stoppable cancers. We have to do everything we can to ensure all of our residents have access to education and screenings.”

Twenty-two dollars ($22) of each “Fight Breast Cancer” license plate purchased or renewed funded $210,000 total in awards this year to eight health centers throughout the state. The grants are administered by the Georgia CORE (Center for Oncology Research and Education) on behalf of the State Office of Rural Health in the Department of Community Health.

“While Georgia has increased our breast cancer screening rates, not all women – particularly those without health insurance – receive appropriate screening or treatment,” says Katreena Davis, Program Manager for Georgia CORE. “The work this grant supports helps to identify breast cancer at an earlier stage, making treatment more effective.”

Since its inception more than a decade ago, the breast cancer license plate program has helped hundreds of thousands of under-resourced women obtain screenings, education, and other prevention services. Nearly eight out of every 10 Georgians benefiting from services through the program are non-white.

“We truly appreciate Georgia CORE and their continued support allowing us to be a trusted resource in our communities, and we hope that more Georgia drivers will purchase the specialty plates to provide even more resources for underserved women,” Merchant added.

For information on Georgia CORE’s cancer awareness license plates and the programs they support, please visit GaCancerPlates.com.