The impact of Hurricane Harvey continues long after the flood waters receded. However, thanks to a $20,000 gift from Tomball Regional Health Foundation (TRHF), The Rose will help ensure women in Tomball, Magnolia, Waller and surrounding communities will have the breast health care they may have put off as they dealt with the aftermath of the storm.
As the leading nonprofit in breast healthcare for Texas, The Rose received the fourth and largest gift yet from the TRHF in support of its Empower Her® Sponsorship Program which makes possible free breast cancer detection screenings, diagnostic services and access to treatment for uninsured women. The increase in the amount of the grant monies is to both focus on those affected by Hurricane Harvey as well as return to previously sponsored patient loads after so many funders directed their 2017 giving to direct hurricane recovery.
“Five months after the hurricane hit, our surveys showed that almost a third of our patients had felt the impact of Harvey,” said Dorothy Gibbons, CEO and Co-Founder of The Rose. “Since we know that uninsured and underinsured women will frequently put off screenings when their family’s needs are so great, we are going to be very aggressive about getting the word out that The Rose Mobile Mammography Program is making their breast health a priority. This gift makes that outreach possible.”
In November, The Rose began the outreach to anyone in the TRHF service area who missed their appointment in the months after the hurricane. A targeted social media campaign is also planned.
Upcoming mobile mammography sites include PCP for Life – East Montgomery County Health Clinic, Dec. 14; PCP for Life – Lake Conroe Medical Clinic, Dec. 13; Houston Area Community Services – Spring Cypress, Dec. 29; AccessHealth – Brookshire, Dec. 31; and Conroe ISD – The Woodlands College Park High School in January.
Last year, The Rose diagnosed breast cancer in six insured and six uninsured women from the 11 zip codes served by TRHF. Based on past data, between Nov. 1, 2018 and Jan. 31, 2019, The Rose anticipates serving 50 uninsured and underinsured TRHF-area residents.
For more information, or to donate or volunteer, please visit www.therose.org.
To schedule a media interview with any member of our board, please contact Lis Harper at 281-846-5976 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.
