The DeAngelo Williams Foundation and Susan G. Komen® Join Forces for New Campaign Extending Breast Cancer Fight beyond October
Williams, Komen Agree Breast Cancer is a Priority Year-Round
DALLAS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Susan G. Komen® and Pittsburgh Steelers running back DeAngelo Williams
today announced the launch of a partnership aimed at keeping the fight
against breast cancer top-of-mind all year long – not just during
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.
Williams, through The DeAngelo Williams Foundation and with Komen, will
participate in breast cancer education campaigns aimed at
African-American women and raise funds for research and other programs
to improve outcomes for women facing breast cancer.
Football fans have grown accustomed to seeing Williams and other
National Football League (NFL) players wear pink accessories on game
days during the NFL’s breast cancer awareness campaign during October.
“But the fight against breast cancer goes way beyond any one month,”
said Williams, who lost his mother and four aunts to breast cancer.
“Supporting women and men battling this disease should be a priority
every day of the year,” Williams said. “Through our new partnership,
we’re encouraging everyone to do something every day in support of the
breast cancer community. I’m proud to join forces with Komen on this
initiative. We are all in this together.”
Williams has deep ties with Komen. Since 2009, The DeAngelo Williams
Foundation has raised nearly $300,000 for the Susan G. Komen Charlotte
Affiliate via his foundation’s participation in the Komen Charlotte Race
for the Cure.
In 2014, The DeAngelo Williams Foundation started “53 Strong for
Sandra,” which sponsored 53 mammograms at a hospital in Charlotte, NC,
and in the coming months, will be doing the same in Pittsburgh, PA and
Memphis, TN, in addition to Charlotte.
Williams’ mother, Sandra Hill, lost her battle to breast cancer at the
age of 53, while his four aunts, Linda Faye, 32, Mamie Earl, 46, Mary
Beatrice, 44 and Theresa Gaye, 49, all lost their battle with breast
cancer before they turned 50.
“DeAngelo Williams’ story mirrors an untold number of African-American
families whose mothers, aunts and sisters die of breast cancer at rates
44 percent above those of Caucasian women,” said Dr. Judith A. Salerno,
M.D., M.S., president and CEO of Susan G. Komen. “DeAngelo has proven
time and again that he’s committed to reducing these death rates by
raising funds for research, education, and access to quality cancer care
for all women. We are so grateful to have such a dedicated and
passionate player as a partner in our mission to end breast cancer
forever.”
Komen has invested more than $90 million in scientific research to
identify genetic and socio-economic factors that lead to health
disparities, and in 2015 alone has invested $25 million in community
health programs specifically targeting African-American women.
Proceeds raised by the campaign will benefit both foundations by
supporting Williams’ work to provide free access to mammograms in the
communities that need it most, and supporting Komen’s metastatic breast
cancer research and efforts to eliminate disparities in screenings and
treatment.
About Susan G. Komen®
Susan G. Komen is world’s largest breast cancer organization, funding
more breast cancer research than any other nonprofit while providing
real-time help to those facing the disease. Since its founding in 1982,
Komen has funded more than $889 million in research and provided $1.95
billion in funding to screening, education, treatment and psychosocial
support programs serving millions of people in more than 30 countries
worldwide. Komen was founded by Nancy G. Brinker, who promised her
sister, Susan G. Komen, that she would end the disease that claimed
Suzy’s life. Visit komen.org or call 1-877 GO KOMEN. Connect with us on
social at ww5.komen.org/social.
About The DeAngelo Williams Foundation
The DeAngelo Williams Foundation is a nonprofit organization founded in
2006 to support the eradication of breast cancer by developing or
supporting breast cancer prevention and research programs. Founder
DeAngelo Williams, who lost his mother and four aunts to breast cancer,
has been featured in breast cancer campaigns as a player for the
Charlotte Panthers and Pittsburgh Steelers. He was featured in an NFL
breast cancer awareness commercial, which garnered 1.3 million video
views, 325,000 engagements and more than 7.4 million impressions on
Williams’ Facebook page. For more information, visit
facebook.com/TheDeAngeloWilliamsFoundation.
Contacts
Susan G. Komen
Andrea Rader, 972-855-4382
press@komen.org