International volunteer organization calls on members to help prevent breast cancer

April 20, 2011
Contact: Jessica Levinson, Communications Director
jessica@soroptimist.org
215-893-9000 x129

Philadelphia, PA—Soroptimist, an international volunteer organization of business and professional women, announces a renewal partnership with the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation in order to help recruit volunteers to join its unique online program, Love/Avon Army of Women.

The Army of Women (AOW) initiative is a groundbreaking program of the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation. Funded by a grant from the Avon Foundation for Women, the AOW is working to recruit one million women of all ages (over 18) and ethnicities, with or without breast cancer, to sign up and participate in breast cancer research studies. As a partner, Soroptimist will encourage its international membership to sign up for the AOW program and will promote information about its various studies.

“Soroptimist is thrilled to renew this partnership,” stated Soroptimist President Sharon Fisher. “Like most women, many of our members have direct experience with breast cancer—either they are survivors or someone close to them has battled the disease. It’s something that’s near and dear to our members’ hearts and we are happy to help in any way we can to find what causes this killer of women. ”

Current AOW studies focus on using breast milk to screen for breast cancer, and finding a better way to predict a woman's breast cancer risk, among others. Participation can involve anything from providing a blood sample to something as simple as filling out an online questionnaire.  For the full list of current projects or general information about the Army of Women program, visit: www.armyofwomen.org

The mission of the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation is to eradicate breast cancer and improve the quality of women’s health through innovate research, education and advocacy. For more information, visit www.dslrf.org.

Headquartered in Philadelphia, Pa., Soroptimist offers programs that improve the lives of women and girls through social and economic empowerment. Its major program, the Soroptimist Women’s Opportunity Awards, provides cash grants for women seeking to improve their lives with the help of additional education and training. Each year, about $1.5 million is disbursed to deserving women through this award-winning program. Soroptimist is a 501(c)(3) organization that relies on charitable donations to support its programs. For more information, visit Soroptimist.org.