Summit, NJ, July 21, 2022 – The Connie Dwyer Breast Cancer Foundation (CDBCF) launched its first grant cycle in January of 2022. We are thrilled to announce in May the Foundation awarded $50,000 to three local nonprofits that are all helping women with breast cancer in a unique way.

CDBCF awarded a $25,000 grant to The Connections for Women and Families a non-profit, women-led organization dedicated to enhancing lives and fostering community. The program and services offered bring together individuals of diverse economic circumstances, race, gender, age, sexual orientation, culture, physical and mental abilities to acquire skills, build self-esteem and through association, develop the respect which eliminates prejudice and promotes compassion. The grant supports the Pathways program that, provides free support, education, and wellness programs for women with cancer, creating a community in which shared experiences lead to personal growth and healing.

The second grant of $22.500 was awarded to the Connie Dwyer Breast Center at Trinitas Regional Medica Center for the purchase of medical equipment for patients needing breast biopsies and breast surgery. This includes the Trident® HD Specimen Radiography System, that provides sharp, high-quality images of breast tissue right in the operating room which means less time under anesthesia for the patient and faster surgery time.

The third grant was awarded to Move Over Breast Cancer (MOBC) for $2,500. MOBC provides individuals affected by breast cancer with uplifting and healing experiences that bring comfort and hope at any time during the cancer journey. Services such as wigs, prosthetics and more are brought to the individual, family, or group in our fully converted and customized walk-in Mobile Resource Lounge & Salon. Because we are fully mobile, we can travel to multiple counties in NJ and to the doorsteps of individuals who are most in need of support. MOBC will meet clients at their residence, provider’s office, or the venue of their choice! MOBC directly addresses the need for and access to non-clinical individualized, comprehensive support and education breast cancer survivors who reside in low-income areas of NJ. MOBC eliminates barriers to holistic, complimentary care and prevention education with our survivor/peer led, essential support programs that are free of charge regardless of insurance status.

Applications for our second grants cycle for 2022 opens on August 15 and close on October 15th. To apply for a grant, please visit www.cdbcf.org/grants.

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Connie Dwyer Breast Cancer Foundation
Through our sponsored facilities, the Connie Dwyer Breast Cancer Foundation serves underprivileged and vulnerable women in New Jersey by ensuring the availability of top-quality breast-health services that include screening, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up care. The Foundation provides financial assistance to programs and needs deemed most crucial to the health and wellbeing of patients and offers collaborative support to provide resources, education, advocacy, and empowerment to the women we serve. To learn more, please visit www.cdbcf.org.

Media Contact:
Sarah Roberts
sarahroberts@cdbcf.org
973-525-8076

Download PDF of Press Release

Summit, NJ, January 11, 2022 – The Connie Dwyer Breast Cancer Foundation (CDBCF) is excited to launch a new grants program. The program will award financial grants to breast cancer nonprofit organizations and initiatives that support the underinsured and uninsured women in the following counties of New Jersey: Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Somerset, Sussex, Union, and Warren.

The inaugural grant cycle will begin accepting applications starting January 15, 2022. Organizations applying for a grant must be a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit in New Jersey to qualify. For the full grant guidelines and to apply, please visit www.cdbcf.org/grants.

In the last 16 years, the Connie Dwyer Breast Cancer Foundation has opened two state-of-the-art Breast Centers in New Jersey. The first Center is located at Saint Michael’s Medical Center Newark, NJ, and the second Center is at Trinitas Regional Medical Center in Elizabeth, NJ. The Foundation recently supported the Connie Dwyer Breast Center at Trinitas by raising funds to purchase and build a new MRI suite for patients and a second 3D Mammography Suite. In addition, the Foundation funded a biopsy coordinator position and established a transportation voucher program that allows patients to get a ride to and from their screenings and treatments.

“The Foundation has grown and evolved so much over the last two decades. The natural next step is to start a grants program that will expand our reach into other communities by allowing nonprofits to apply for grants”, explains Connie Dwyer, founder of the Connie Dwyer Breast Cancer Foundation. “It is important to our Board and supporters that we continue to ensure that every woman in our area has access to top-quality breast health services.”

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Connie Dwyer Breast Cancer Foundation

Through our sponsored facilities and a grants program, the Connie Dwyer Breast Cancer Foundation serves underprivileged and vulnerable women by ensuring the availability of top-quality breast-health services that include screening, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up care. In addition, CDBCF provides financial support for programs that provide resources, education, advocacy, and empowerment for the women we serve.

Media Contact:
Sarah Roberts
973-525-8076
sarahroberts@cdbcf.org

Download PDF of Press Release

Elizabeth, NJ, November 15, 2021 – The Connie Dwyer Breast Cancer Foundation (CDBCF) raised more than $500,000 at their annual Embrace Hope event in October 2021. The Foundation is honored to announce a $250,000 grant to the Connie Dwyer Breast Center at Trinitas Regional Medical Center for a second 3D mammogram machine.

The new state-of-the-art 3D mammography machine reduces the need for additional imaging, increases the number of cancers detected during the screening and improves breast cancer detection in dense breast tissue. A mammogram is an X-ray of the breast and is a critical screening tool used to detect breast cancer. Together with regular clinical exams and monthly breast self-examinations, mammograms are a vital element in early breast cancer diagnosis. According to the National Cancer Institute, breast cancer is the second most common cancer for women in the United States, after skin cancer.

 “We are very proud to provide another 3D mammogram machine to the Connie Dwyer Breast Center that ensures each year hundreds of more women in New Jersey can access critical screenings and state-of-the-art breast health care. This is a tremendous step forward for expanding services at the Connie Dwyer Breast Center that wouldn’t be possible without our supporters.,” said Connie Dwyer, Chairperson of the Connie Dwyer Breast Cancer Foundation.

In addition to granting the 3D mammogram machine, the Foundation was also able to create the position of a Biopsy Coordinator, as well as a transportation voucher program that offers patients rides to and from their appointments at the Connie Dwyer Breast Center at Trinitas Regional Medical Center.

“Trinitas is very grateful to the Connie Dwyer Breast Cancer Foundation for their latest generous $250,000 gift, which will be instrumental in expanding 3D mammography services in their beautiful Breast Center. This lifesaving gift will put local underserved women on the path to a healthier life by giving them convenient access to annual mammograms that produce the most precise and comprehensive information on their breast health,” explained Laura Ciraco, Vice President, and Chief Development Officer, Trinitas Health Foundation.

The Connie Dwyer Breast Center offers a full suite of services, including 3D mammograms, surgical biopsy, high-resolution breast ultrasound, stereotactic and ultrasound-guided biopsy, and breast MRI. In addition, the Center’s board-certified radiologists are skilled in breast imaging and evaluations. To schedule your mammogram or for other services, please call 908-994-5984 or visit www.trinitasrmc.org/connie_dwyer_breast_center.

Please help us make this our biggest year ever! Go to cdbcf.org/give to donate to Connie’s End-of-Year Campaign. We provide critical breast health services for the uninsured and underinsured women in New Jersey, helping to ensure everyone can #Embracehope.

Watch a quick recap of the Connie Dwyer Breast Cancer Foundation’s eagerly-anticipated annual Embrace Hope fundraiser that was held on October 15, 2021.

To add to the excitement, we honored Eli Manning, legendary New York Giants quarterback and two-time Superbowl MVP. We also recognized Dr. Dipti Pandya, M.D., head Radiologist at the Connie Dwyer Breast Cancer Center at Trinitas Regional Medical Center in Elizabeth, NJ, with a distinguished service award for her dedicated service and commitment to her patients and the foundation.

The virtual Embrace Hope event was broadcast live on our website with a message from Connie Dwyer and Dr. Pandya, an appearance by Eli Manning, a live auction, and text-to-donate.

State of the art technology for breast imaging continues to be the standard at the Connie Dwyer Breast Center at Trinitas Regional Medical Center. A new 3-D tomosynthesis mammogram machine now provides both advanced images and the capability for a 3-D guided biopsy. “density a woman has in her breast, the more likely that a small lesion could go unseen by 2-D imaging,” says Dr. Dipti Panday, lead breast imaging radiologist. “3-D imaging allows us to spread the tissue out ANSI lesions working underneath.”

Another benefit of that technology is fewer patient callbacks. “in the past, women might get asked to come back for a second mammogram, and it turned out to just be normal breast tissue,” says Dr. Pandya. “With 3-D imaging, we can figure that out in advance and eliminate unnecessary return visits. That helps reduce patient anxiety.”

Having access to a breast surgeon right in the center a few days a week also enhances Communication with radiologists regarding breast cancer issues. “It creates a much more hands-on and interactive link between the imagers and a breast surgeon, which is very important for providing the highest level of patient care,” says Dr. Pandya.

In recognition of October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month and in partnership with Connie Dwyer Breast Cancer Foundation (CDBCF), a N.J.- based organization which serves underprivileged and vulnerable women by ensuring the availability of top-quality breast-health services, Bridgewater Commons unveiled Embrace Hope, a photographic mural featuring six Connie Dwyer Breast Center and foundation staff members, each tirelessly dedicated in their work to care for women in N.J. diagnosed with breast cancer.

Here is Channel 12 News segment of the striking black and white photographs of these unsung women’s healthcare heroes including a physician, ultrasound technologist and biopsy navigator beautifully captured by celebrated N.J. photographer Joy Glenn, each portrait will be displayed with a personal message of hope and testimonial about that individual’s role in the ongoing fight against the disease. 

CDBCF and our donors made it possible for us to grant Trinitas Regional Medical Center, in New Jersey, an emergency grant of $70,000 used for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for front line health workers in March 2020.  

Thanks to all of the CDBCF donors who made it possible to pay the third and last $333,000 in December 2020. The total contribution of one million dollars to Trinitas Regional Medical Center for installing a new state-of-the-art MRI machine and suite to be used by patients at the Connie Dwyer Breast Center in Elizabeth, New Jersey.

After being treated for breast cancer herself, Connie Dwyer noticed how hard it was for underprivileged women to deal with the disease, so she became part of the solution. READ THE FULL INTERVIEW HERE>  

For cancer patients in active treatment, Covid – 19 has been extremely difficult to deal with, Especially for those who are facing financial difficulties. At Curémonos, we know exactly what they are going through as we continue to support them in their journeys. All of these patients were already struggling financially before the pandemic and their situation has only worsen due to the reduction of services and resources available at their hospitals and in their communities. They are not only battling breast cancer, but they are also struggling with financial difficulties and the uncertainty brought by the pandemic.

We would like to express our gratitude to The Connie Dwyer Breast Cancer Foundation for their generosity in providing ShopRite cards. With their support, we were able to help nine breast cancer patients from Trinitas Hospital, Overlook Hospital and Morristown Hospital. The ShopRite cards were distributed as follows:

Dr. Cholankeril picked up ShopRite cards for four of her neediest breast cancer patients. All of her patients are undergoing chemotherapy treatment and their financial situation makes it extremely difficult to cope with their day-to-day lives. Their stories are as follows:

• Beverly was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013. She lost her job and house shortly after her diagnosis. She had to live in a hotel with her children for two years. Despite all of her difficulties, Beverly is extremely grateful to be alive.
• Regina was diagnosed with stage II breast cancer on February 5, 2019. Shortly, after her diagnosis, she lost her job and has not been able to obtain disability benefits. Although her husband works, the loss of her income has put a strain in their financial stability.
• Omaira was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 71 in January of this year. Due to her age and financial difficulties, it has been extremely difficult for Omaira to cope with her diagnosis and treatment. Although she lives with her sister, her sister lost her babysitting job due to the pandemic. Omaira will be using her ShopRite cards to buy food and much needed medication.
• Virginia was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2019. She is a single mom with three young children. Due to her treatment, Virginia has not been able to work and must rely on the limited support provided by her family. Virginia has been our client since December 2019.

Since the majority of these patients are new clients for Curémonos, we secured other sources of financial support to help them during this very difficult and uncertain time.  Sandra was first diagnosed with early stage, triple negative breast cancer in 2013. She completed her treatment in 2014 and was cancer free for a couple of years. After the birth of her son in 2017, she was diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer, which had metastasized to her stomach and liver. Due to the harsh chemotherapy and radiation treatments, Sandra is unable to work. She is married with four children and her family lives on a limited income. Since her husband’s hours were reduced at work due to Convid – 19, she has had to rely on the support of her family. Unfortunately, her family is also struggling financially so their support is very limited.

At the age of twenty-nine, Ashley was diagnosed in September 2019 with an aggressive type of breast cancer. She is a single mom of a four-year-old daughter. She completed several rounds of chemotherapy, which was followed by surgery. She is currently undergoing radiation treatment. Due to the harsh chemotherapy treatments, she had to stop working. Although Ashley is eager to go back to work, it has been extremely difficult for her to find a job due to the pandemic and her ongoing cancer treatment.

At the age of thirty-five, Digna was diagnosed in January 2020 with stage IIIB, triple negative breast cancer. She is currently undergoing chemotherapy treatment and is scheduled for surgery in August. She lives with her husband and two young children. Unfortunately, her husband was furloughed due to Convid – 19. The loss of income has put a financial strain on the family. She has had to rely on food pantries to feed her family. Therefore, she was extremely grateful to be one of the beneficiaries of the ShopRite food cards as she was able to buy groceries for her family during the Memorial Day weekend.

Alison was diagnosed with Stage IV breast cancer in June 2019. Due to the severity of her condition, she lost her consulting job shortly after her diagnosis. It has been a constant financial struggle for Alison and she was hoping to secure a part-time job at the beginning of the year to supplement her disability benefits. Unfortunately, Convid – 19 has put a hold on her dreams to regain financial stability. Despite all of the difficulties, Alison has a positive attitude and is extremely grateful for all of the support provided by Curémonos and other foundations. The following is her testimonial:

“It was fun and always a pleasure to see you today as we did our social distance air hugs. Once again, a great BIG THANK YOU for the Shoprite Gift Card. Your timing is impeccable. What a thoughtful surprise! The end of month always proposes a challenge as cash on hand ends and bills for the coming month begin — it is a continuous cycle. Your generous gift helps me to purchase food items and free up cash on hand for other necessities. Thank you for thinking of me.”

We also helped Natalie who was diagnosed in 2019 with stage II breast cancer at the age of thirty. She was diagnosed while doing her medical residency program at the local hospital. She is married and has a five-year-old daughter. Her husband is a full-time caregiver to their daughter since he also faces his own health issues. He was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2012. Although It has been a very difficult journey for Natalie, she is committed to use her personal experience with breast cancer to help others and to pay it forward to help those in need.

Since the majority of these patients will continue to receive treatment for the remainder of the year, we will continue to provide support through our various programs. For those, who will be in active treatment in December, they are also going to benefit from Curémonos’ Holiday Cheer Program.

Once again, we are extremely grateful to The Connie Dwyer Breast Cancer Foundation for their generous gift and for allowing us to make a difference in the lives of those in need during this very uncertain time.