Choose to Help: Taxes Benefit Breast Cancer Research
January 18, 2008—Oakland, CA—More California taxpayers are learning about the Tax Check-off, the voluntary contributions that individuals can make through their State Income Tax forms (series 540) to support specific needs within the state. Contributions to the Breast Cancer Research Fund—line 55 on State Income Tax Form 540—are earmarked specifically for breast cancer research that focuses on California women and men.
This year, nearly 20,000 Californians will be diagnosed with breast cancer, and 4,000 Californians will die from the disease. The California Breast Cancer Research Program is working to end this tragedy by funding truly innovative studies that will result in better ways to prevent, detect, and treat breast cancer. Through the Tax Check-off, Californians can choose to help.
Tax Check-off contributions fund research projects that focus on under-researched areas and underserved population groups. These are scientifically meritorious studies that other funding agencies might hesitate to support, but, if successful, could more rapidly advance efforts to eliminate the problems caused by breast cancer.
Previous contributions to the Tax Check-off have supported all or part of 45 grants investigating critical areas of breast cancer research, including:
- Finding extremely early genetic changes that can be used to eliminate cancer cells before they become tumors
- Developing targeted therapies to block breast cancer from spreading to other organs
- Exploring the potential of natural products in preventing and treating breast cancer
- Improving support networks and empowering breast cancer patients within the healthcare system
“Every dollar counts,” says Mhel Kavanaugh-Lynch, M.D., M.P.H., director of the California Breast Cancer Research Program. “Our goal this year is to raise $1 million through the Tax Check-off. With those funds, our researchers could double their efforts and push for greater advances against a disease that affects so many in our state.”
More information on how to help end breast cancer through the Tax Check-off is at www.endbreastcancer.org.
About the California Breast Cancer Research Program
The mission of the California Breast Cancer Research Program is to eliminate breast cancer by leading innovation in research, communication, and collaboration in the California scientific and lay communities.
Created by the State Legislature in 1993, the California Breast Cancer Research Program (CBCRP) is the largest state-funded breast cancer research program in the nation and is administered by the University of California, Office of the President. To date, the CBCRP has awarded 761 grants to 92 scientific institutions and community entities, totaling more than $181 million for research in California to prevent, treat, and cure breast cancer. Grants from the CBCRP fill gaps not traditionally funded by other research programs to jump-start new areas of investigation that push the boundaries of research and foster new collaborations. The CBCRP is funded through the voluntary tax check-off program on personal income tax form 540, a portion of the state tobacco tax, and individual contributions. For more information, call 888 313-2277, or visit www.cabreastcancer.org.
