Methodist Healthcare Ministries Announces $100,000 in matching funds to kickstart local 2020 “Real Men Wear Pink” Campaign

San Antonio, Texas, October 6, 2020 – Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. announced a match campaign up to $100,000 in contributions to the American Cancer Society’s 2020 “Real Men Wear Pink” initiative at a press conference this morning. Real Men Wear Pink is an annual campaign that raises awareness and monies to support programming critical to fighting cancer.

According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), this year, an estimated 19,500 Texans (including 1,200 in Bexar County) will hear the words, ‘You have breast cancer’ and more than 3,000 people will die from the disease. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic there has been a significant decrease in the number of people getting screened for breast cancer and one analysis shows there was an 87% decline in Mammograms from February to April 2020. It is estimated that more than seven million women delayed or declined mammograms during the first half of 2020 in the United States. That translates to 36,000 patients delayed in a potential breast cancer diagnosis.

"We know that cancer does not discriminate who it impacts as it hits regardless of a person’s gender, race, location, income level or whether one has insurance or not” said Jaime Wesolowski, President & CEO of Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. “The American Cancer Society offers a number of incredible programs to assist those most in need when cancer strikes and we are proud to be able to support them during these challenging times.”

 Every dollar raised through the “Real Men Wear Pink” campaign helps the American Cancer Society (ACS) save lives from breast cancer through early detection and prevention, innovative breast cancer research, and patient support. Despite the additional challenges presented by COVID-19, patients and families still need critical resources such as transportation vouchers to treatment appointments, lodging assistance for financially challenged families and other vital support programs that lighten the load for families fighting cancer. ACS provides more than $64 million in breast cancer research grants nationwide. It also provides free resources aimed at helping offset feelings of isolation and provide vital support for families facing cancer in San Antonio.

“The American Cancer Society has partnered with Methodist Healthcare Ministries for many years to reduce the cancer burden in our communities and we can’t thank them enough for this astounding gift,” said Lindsay Maggio McElwee, Executive Director of the American Cancer Society. “One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime and COVID-19 has made cancer patients more vulnerable than ever. We help women year-round get tested to find breast cancer earlier and cope with the physical and emotional side effects of the disease. We also fund research to help prevent, find, and treat breast cancer. This generous commitment of $100,000 in matching funds from Methodist Healthcare Ministries will be crucial in helping fuel our continued fight for a world without cancer.”

“With this commitment we are making today to the American Cancer Society, we are pledging our support to help reduce and ease those barriers so that families fighting cancer have the resources they need" added Wesolowski. "We know cancer did not stop impacting people during the pandemic and neither can we. The need for help is too great."

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About Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.

Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. is a private, faith-based not-for-profit organization dedicated to creating access to health care for the uninsured through direct services, community partnerships and strategic grant-making in 74 counties across South Texas. Guided by its mission of "Serving Humanity to Honor God," Methodist Healthcare Ministries’ vision is to be the leader for improving wellness of the least served. The mission also includes Methodist Healthcare Ministries' one-half ownership of the Methodist Healthcare System, the largest healthcare system in South Texas, which creates a unique avenue to ensure that it continues to be a benefit to the community by providing quality care to all and charitable care when needed. For more information, visit www.mhm.org.

About American Cancer Society

The American Cancer Society is a global grassroots force of nearly 2 million volunteers dedicated to saving lives, celebrating lives, and leading the fight for a world without cancer. From breakthrough research, free lodging near treatment, a 24/7 live cancer helpline, to free rides for patients, and convening powerful activists to create awareness and impact, the American Cancer Society is the only organization attacking cancer from every angle. For more information about cancer and/or other ways you may become involved, call the American Cancer Society’s 24-hour helpline at (800) 227-2345 or visitwww.cancer.org.