Governor’s Declaration Furthers Breast Cancer Research Goal
March 4, 2008—Oakland, CA—The California Breast Cancer Research Program’s 2008 goal of raising $1 million in contributions was helped this week when Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declared March “Checkoff California Month,” and encouraged taxpayers to support the charitable funds listed on the state’s voluntary tax check-off program.
Tax check-off contributions are made through taxpayers’ state income tax form 540. The California Breast Cancer Research Fund is a tax check-off participant, and contributions to this fund go directly to the California Breast Cancer Research Program to propel scientific studies that other funding agencies might hesitate to support. These studies focus on under-researched areas and underserved communities, and if successful, could more rapidly advance efforts to eliminate the problems caused by breast cancer.
“Our primary funding source, the state cigarette tax, has been declining,” remarks Mhel Kavanaugh-Lynch, M.D., M.P.H., director of the California Breast Cancer Research Program. “So it’s important to get the word out. Tax preparers and taxpayers should know that even just a few dollars here and there can add up to significant research power.”
The California Breast Cancer Research Program and the other tax check-off organizations pooled resources to launch the Checkoff California media campaign and raise awareness of the tax check-off program.
Previous tax check-off contributions 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
A list of grants supported by the Tax Check-off, and 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.
