Saint Francis Hospital's Karl J. Krapek, Sr. Comprehensive Women’s Health Center has received two recent grants totaling $35,000 that will help expand access to breast health education, patient navigation, and essential screening services for women across Greater Hartford.
The Connecticut Breast Health Initiative (CT BHI) awarded Saint Francis a $10,000 Educational Grant to strengthen breast cancer education and outreach efforts. The funding will provide bilingual educational materials for patients and families, breast health teaching models and visual aids for community outreach and clinical settings, and comprehensive resource binders for newly diagnosed breast cancer patients. These tools will support the Center’s Breast Health Outreach and Education Program and Nurse Navigator Program, helping women better understand their health, navigate complex care decisions, and access critical resources throughout the cancer care continuum.
In addition, The Charlotte Johnson Hollfelder Foundation awarded Saint Francis $25,000 to support its longstanding breast imaging assistance program for uninsured and underinsured women, including its Pink Link free mammogram day held each October. The funding will help ensure that vulnerable patients have timely access to screening and diagnostic mammograms and ultrasounds, removing financial barriers that can delay the early detection of breast cancer. In the past year alone, support from the Foundation enabled 36 women to receive breast imaging services they otherwise may have postponed or forgone due to cost.
Together, these grants reinforce Saint Francis’ commitment to reducing disparities in breast cancer outcomes and improving access to lifesaving care. The Comprehensive Women’s Health Center serves a diverse patient population, many of whom face challenges such as limited insurance coverage, transportation barriers, and financial insecurity. Through community outreach, patient navigation, education, and financial assistance, Saint Francis is helping more women access preventive care, receive timely diagnoses, and successfully navigate treatment.
"We are deeply grateful to both the Connecticut Breast Health Initiative and The Charlotte Johnson Hollfelder Foundation for their partnership," said Timothy R. Stanton, Trinity Health Of New England Regional Vice President of Philanthropy and Saint Francis Foundation Chief Development Officer. "Their support helps ensure that women in our community have access not only to critical breast imaging services, but also to the education and resources they need to be informed and active members of their health care team."