Nominations are sought for 2009 Josetta Wilkins Awards
By Monitor Staff
Wednesday, December 31, 2008 11:08 AM CST
Officials with the Arkansas Department of Health and BreastCare are accepting nominations online at
www.ARBreastCare.com for the annual Josetta Wilkins Awards now through Feb. 13. This is the first year that BreastCare has offered the option of online nominations.
BreastCare’s Josetta Wilkins Awards are given annually to a volunteer individual, a professional individual and an organization that make the fight against breast cancer a top priority and raise breast cancer awareness in Arkansas. Those wishing to nominate a group or individual only are required to fill out the online nomination form and submit a brief summary, between 250-500 words, explaining why the nominee should be recognized.
The awards are named in honor of former state representative Dr. Josetta Wilkins of Pine Bluff, whose tireless efforts in the legislature resulted in the establishment of the BreastCare program. Individuals and organizations may be nominated for their work in breast cancer education, research, advocacy, treatment, support or services for those in need.
Recipients of this award share Dr. Wilkins’ passion and determination for the fight against breast cancer in Arkansas. And those were the characteristics that helped Dr. Josetta Wilkins lead the legislature in the passage of the Breast Cancer Act of 1997, which ultimately led to the creation of the Arkansas BreastCare program. BreastCare is a comprehensive program that provides free breast and cervical cancer screening, diagnosis and treatment services for Arkansas women who have little or no health insurance. Since the program began in 1999, BreastCare has provided more than 114,000 free screening mammograms statewide to women who qualify for the program. In addition, approximately 2,000 women have received treatment for breast and cervical cancer through BreastCare.
Previous Josetta Wilkins Award winners include: the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation - Arkansas and Ozark Affiliates, White County Regional Medical Center, Encore Plus, Steel Magnolias Breast Cancer Support Group, New Outlook: The Women’s Cancer Recovery Program of St. Vincent Health System, Breast Care Coordination Team, Washington Regional Cancer Support Home of Fayetteville, Jane McDaniel of Jonesboro, Patsy Bentley of Magnolia, former state Rep. Bobby Newman of El Dorado, former state Rep. Jay Bradford of Pine Bluff, Dr. David Bourne, Charlie Stayton, Mattye Willis, Anita Russell, Mary Green, Dr. Ronda Henry-Tillman and Francesica Kelley of Little Rock.
For more information about BreastCare, the Josetta Wilkins Awards or to submit nominations, visit www.ARBreastCare.com.
