February 9, 2000

SPRINGFIELD, IL -- Illinois taxpayers have the opportunity this year to contribute to special research funds for Alzheimer’s disease, breast and cervical cancer and prostate cancer by simply filling in the amount to be donated on their 1999 Illinois income tax returns.

“This marks the 15th year for Alzheimer’s and the seventh year for breast and cervical cancer research funds to be included on the Illinois state tax return form,” said Dr. John R. Lumpkin, state public health director. “Illinois taxpayers have shown their commitment to help fight these diseases. In addition, this year, taxpayers can contribute to a fund that will provide critical research into the causes, prevention and treatment of prostate cancer.”

The Prostate Cancer Research fund will be used to focus on early detection, prevention and treatment. Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in men, diagnosed in about 8,300 Illinois men annually. About 3 percent of the men who develop the disease die from it.

Donations to the Alzheimer’s Disease Research fund are used to find more effective ways to diagnose and treat this debilitating disease, which afflicts about 200,000 people in Illinois. Since the fund first appeared on the 1985 state tax form, taxpayers have donated more than $1.9 million to support 96 research projects.

Money contributed to the Breast and Cervical Research fund will be used to advance the understanding and techniques effective in early detection, prevention and treatment. One out of every eight American women will develop breast cancer during her life. More than 46,000 women in the United States will die this year from the disease – 2,200 of them from Illinois. Nearly 710 women in Illinois learn they have invasive cervical cancer each year and about 220 women die annually from the disease. Since the fund first appeared on the 1993 state tax form, $863,000 has been donated to support 46 research projects.

Taxpayers can donate $1 or more to the Alzheimer’s disease fund (line 26c of their 1999 IL-1040 state income tax return, or item 12 on the TeleFile worksheet), the breast and cervical cancer fund (line 26e on the IL-1040 form, or item 14 on TeleFile worksheet) or the prostate cancer fund (line 26f on the IL-1040 form, or item 15 on the TeleFile worksheet). The amount pledged will either decrease the amount of a refund or increase the amount due. All donations are tax deductible.

A fund must generate a minimum of $100,000 each year in order to appear on the next year’s tax form.

Direct contributions also may be made to the Department’s funds by sending a check, payable to the Illinois Department of Public Health, to P.O. Box 4263, Springfield, IL 62708. Clearly mark the designated fund on the check.

Illinois Department of Public Health 535 West Jefferson Street Springfield, Illinois 62761 Phone 217-782-4977 Fax 217-782-3987 TTY 800-547-0466 Questions or Comments