Soroptimist Calls on Members to Join the  Love/Avon Army of Women
New Program Focuses on Preventing Breast Cancer

Date: March 23, 2009
Contact: Jessica Levinson, Communications Director
215-893-9000 x129

PHILADELPHIA, Pa.—Soroptimist, an international volunteer organization of business and professional women, announces its support of a unique new program that offers women the opportunity to help unlock the key to preventing breast cancer: the Love/Avon Army of Women. The Love/Avon Army of Women seeks to recruit one million women nationwide to help researchers learn what causes breast cancer and move beyond a cure to prevention. Women across the U.S. are encouraged to be “one in a million” by learning more and signing up at www.armyofwomen.org. 

The Love/Avon Army of Women is a partnership between the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation and the Avon Foundation. It launched on October 1, 2008, to mark the start of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Women have taken personal action and raised millions of dollars that have advanced treatment and early detection, but researchers still do not know what causes the disease. The Love/Avon Army of Women empowers women with a new opportunity—a simple but revolutionary call for one million women of all ages and ethnicities to join the “Army” and consider serving as research volunteers. These efforts will  help scientists understand the causes of breast cancer—and how to end it once and for all. 

“Soroptimist is thrilled to be part of this campaign,” stated Alice Wells, Soroptimist’s president. “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.”

“Women have repeatedly demonstrated through fundraising and advocacy their personal dedication to ending breast cancer,” said Dr. Susan Love, the visionary behind the Army of Women and a leader in the breast cancer movement for more than 30 years.  “This new initiative gives women the opportunity to be part of the research itself and help shift the focus.  The Army of Women will enable more scientists to move from studying cancer after it occurs, and testing new drugs and treatments, to seeking the cause and prevention.  If we all join together, I know we can end breast cancer in our lifetime.” Love, a renowned breast cancer surgeon and respected expert in the field, is also the author of the best-selling Dr. Susan Love’s Breast Book and president of the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation.

Why is the Army of Women important? “All too often, researchers cannot find the volunteers they need for their studies, or it takes up to 18 months to recruit enough,” explained Marc Hurlbert, director of the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade.  “The Army of Women will solve this problem and allow scientists to focus on their work, not recruitment, and provide timely access to healthy women volunteers, thereby moving the focus from the lab to real women, and accelerating research into breast cancer cause and prevention.”

 “It’s obvious that prevention is key to ending this disease, which has affected so many women’s lives. We will encourage our members to visit the new website www.armyofwomen.org and be part of this important effort,” added Wells.

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

The Avon Foundation 
The Avon Foundation, an accredited 501(c)(3) public charity, was founded in 1955 to improve the lives of women and their families, and focuses on breast cancer and domestic violence. From1992 through 2008, the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade has raised and awarded more than $585 million worldwide for access to care and finding a cure for breast cancer, with a focus on the medically underserved. Funding supports five areas:  awareness and education; screening and diagnosis; access to treatment; support services; and scientific research. Beneficiaries range from leading cancer centers to community-based non-profit breast health programs. For more information, visit www.avonfoundation.org

Soroptimist
Headquartered in Philadelphia, Pa., Soroptimist is an international volunteer women’s organization offering programs that improve the lives of women through three distinct platforms: economic empowerment, elimination of violence, and gender equality. 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, more than $1 million is disbursed to deserving women through this award-winning program. Soroptimist, a 501(c)(3) organization that relies on charitable donations to support its programs, also sponsors the Live Your Dream campaign in recognition of the power of women and their dreams. Visit the campaign’s online home at: LiveYourDreamCampaign.org. For more information on how Soroptimist improves the lives of women and girls, visit Soroptimist.org.