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WILMINGTON, DE - DBCC’s 2021 Shining Light Awards will take place at the Waterfall in Wilmington on Wednesday, August 4, 2021, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. At the 2021 cocktail award reception, the Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition (DBCC) will be honoring the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, Division of Public Health. The honor will be accepted by Dr. Karyl Rattay, Director of the Delaware Division of Public Health.
DBCC’s Shining Light Awards began in 2014.Today, the Shining Light Awards recognizes those who have made a significant contribution to the advancements made towards ending breast cancer in the greater Delaware region and who have served to motivate and inspire others to be champions of the cause.
The 2021 Shining Light honoree is Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, Division of Public Health (DHSS-DPH), for their ongoing partnership with the Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition (DBCC) to provide centralized patient navigation services for breast, cervical, and other health screenings throughout the State. As the Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition celebrates 30 years of service to the State of Delaware, we are excited to host a post-pandemic, in-person event with the goal of bringing our constituents together for this year's Shinning Light Awards to honor the very deserving Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, Division of Public Health.
In 2004, DBCC partnered with the State of Delaware’s DHSS, DPH to manage the Women’s Health Screening Program. The Women’s Health Screening Program has evolved from the single mobile screening van, to the statewide program offered today that reaches out to underserved audiences to help schedule them for mammograms at free-standing sites and, if needed, provides transportation, as well as interpretation in Spanish and Haitian-Creole by certified medical interpreters.
According to a report released from DHSS-DPH, the COVID-19 pandemic caused a 58% decrease in breast cancer screenings among Delawareans. The Women’s Health Screening team and the State have worked tenaciously to navigate 533 individuals to mammogram screenings between July 1, 2020 and April 30, 2021 to ensure preventative care that is saving lives.
In partnership with DHSS-DPH, DBCC also implements community outreach on behalf of the state, hosting several Multicultural Connection Wellness Fairs throughout the
state annually. These unique tri-lingual outreach opportunities are held in collaboration with local organizations and focus on reaching the underserved and disparate populations.
If someone is in need of a mammogram, the Women’s Health Screening team will navigate them through the steps, ensuring they have proper insurance coverage, an appointment, transportation, interpretation, and follow-up assistance as needed.
The collaboration between the Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition and the State of Delaware has been in place for over 16 years, resulting in over 13,846 women being screened, and has saved countless lives by removing barriers to care that detects breast cancer early, when it is more treatable.
Additional sponsorship opportunities are available and reservations are $60 per general ticket, $40 per survivor ticket. For more information about the Shining Light Awards winners, sponsorship opportunities, and registration information, please visit https://dbcc.ejoinme.org/SLA21 or contact kpaustian@debreastcancer.org.
For more information about programs and services please visit www.debreastcancer.org.
About Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition
The Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition (DBCC) is a 501(c)(3) organization offering statewide programs and services. The Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition, Inc. empowers our community by raising awareness of breast health issues through survivorship support services, outreach and education, in order to facilitate the early detection and treatment of breast cancer.
Its vision is to create a community where every person diagnosed with breast cancer is a survivor, and fear and doubt are replaced with knowledge and hope. The DBCC also supports the National Breast Cancer Coalition’s advocacy efforts to end breast cancer.
Headquartered in Wilmington with offices in Kent and Sussex Counties, the Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition’s programs reach diverse communities to deliver messages that address their unique concerns about breast cancer and early detection. Recognizing the barriers of language, culture, and economics, DBCC trains community advocates through their Peer Mentor Program, as well as works to help educate and encourage women and men to take responsibility for their health through breast health presentations and community health fairs. In addition, the Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition helps those with low incomes and those with little or no insurance receive free or reduced-cost care.
For more information about the Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition, call 866-312-DBCC (3222) or visit the website at www.debreastcancer.org