[Houston Chronicle] The Rose, a breast cancer group that serves patients throughout Southeast Texas regardless of their ability to pay, recently shattered a fundraising record by garnering $201,000 at its 34th annual shrimp boil.
The June 25 event had set a goal of $150,000. Last year’s event raised $132,600.
“I am deeply grateful for the record-breaking support we have received from our incredible community and sponsors,” CEO and co-founder Dorothy Gibbons said. “This event is always special with a true community spirit where many of the attendees and volunteers are the very patients we have helped over the years.”
This year’s event drew 750 participants, selling 800 plates and 900 pounds of boiled shrimp.
The event included the introduction of the group’s fifth mammography mobile coach, “Eva.” The coach, which has 3-D mammogram screening technology, joins the Rose’s “Pink Fleet,” a unit of mobile coaches that provide imaging services to the region with an emphasis on underserved communities.
Since its beginning, the Shrimp Boil has brought in more than $1 million to provide comprehensive screening and diagnostic breast health-care services.
Co-founded by Gibbons and Dr. Dixie Melillo, The Rose serves more than 7,000 uninsured patients each year at its two Houston-area locations and provides mobile services to 43 counties.
The shrimp boil originated when Marsha and Jim Anderson organized a fundraiser to support the group.
According to the organization, every three insured women using The Rose’s screening services results in one qualified uninsured woman receiving care, and more than 75 percent of patients report they would not have received a mammogram without The Rose’s mobile mammography fleet. Read Houston Chronicle article
To schedule a media interview with any member of The Rose, please contact Ivis Batista at 978-885-7306 or email [email protected]. For more information, or to donate or volunteer, please visit www.therose.org.
About The Rose
Since 1986, The Rose has provided high quality breast healthcare to all women, regardless of their ability to pay. Its mission is to save lives through quality breast health services, advocacy and access to care for all. As a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence, The Rose is led by Fellowship trained physicians and offers advanced digital technology including 3-D tomosynthesis mammography, diagnostic workups, biopsies and its nationally recognized Patient Navigation Program ensures access to treatment and a continuum of care for all women. As a major part of Southeast Texas’ Healthcare Safety Net, The Rose is a strong advocate for quality breast healthcare and access to care. The Rose provides direct medical services to 40,000 insured and uninsured patients annually. Two Houston-based comprehensive Diagnostic Centers and Mobile Mammography Coaches provide services to women throughout 43 counties in Southeast Texas.
