Governor Blagojevich announces more than $1 million in Ticket for the Cure grants for breast cancer education and support services

Ticket has already funded more than $4 M in grants for
fight against breast cancer 

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today announced more than $1 million in Ticket for the Cure grants to 52 Illinois local health departments and community organizations, for breast cancer education and supportive services for breast cancer victims and their families.

Launched in January 2006, Ticket for the Cure is the nation’s first lottery ticket dedicated to helping fund breast cancer early detection, education, research, and patient services throughout the state. 100 percent of the net proceeds from Ticket for the Cure go to programs and research initiatives to help diagnose and treat breast cancer.

“Ticket for the Cure is successfully raising money to educate women about the importance of early detection and the need for routine mammograms and breast exams. To help women get the routine exams they need, we expanded the Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program to provide free breast and cervical cancer screenings to all uninsured women,” said Governor Blagojevich. “I encourage everyone to continue supporting Ticket for the Cure to raise awareness of the importance of early detection and to use the ticket to start a conversation about how the Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program can help women take advantage of potentially life-saving screenings and treatment.”

Previously, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) awarded $2.8 million in Ticket for the Cure grants to 52 local health departments and community organizations across the state, and $1.5 million in research grants to five Illinois universities.

“So many lives are touched by breast cancer and nearly all of us know of someone affected by this disease,” said IDPH Director Dr. Damon T. Arnold. “These Ticket for the Cure grants will help fund educational seminars, speakers and literature as well as health fairs and outreach efforts to better combat the impacts breast cancer can have on our lives.”

“It is great to see money from Ticket for the Cure being put to work to help people in need – the reason behind the ticket,” said Acting Illinois Lottery Superintendent Jodie Winnett. “Purchasing a Ticket for the Cure is the perfect way to have fun and join in the fight against breast cancer at the same time, and I encourage everyone 18 and older to purchase a ticket.”

Net revenue from the sale of Ticket for the Cure is deposited into an interest bearing account in the State Treasury called the Ticket for the Cure Fund. The Illinois General Assembly appropriates this money solely to IDPH, which awards grants to public and private entities in Illinois. The Ticket for the Cure Board, a special advisory board, reviews and approves all grants funded by Ticket for the Cure revenue.

“The net proceeds of the Ticket for the Cure scratch-off lottery game have been granted to Illinois not-for-profit organizations dedicated to providing breast cancer education, support and research,” said Leonard Thomas, Chair of the Ticket for the Cure Advisory Board.  “Our hope is that the programs offered by the Ticket for the Cure grantees are utilized by everyone.  As a breast cancer husband, I know first hand how peer support and knowledge of this disease and its treatment options empowers the survivor and family.”

For more information on the Ticket for the Cure, please visit www.illinoislottery.com.

Also, women can find out how to get breast and cervical cancer screenings and treatment through Governor Blagojevich’s Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program by logging on to www.cancerscreening.illinois.gov.

For more information on women’s health and programs visit www.idph.state.il.us or call the Women’s Health Line at (888) 522-1282. For TTY (hearing impaired use only) call (800) 547-0466.

Illinois Department of Public Health
Office of Women’s Health

Ticket for the Cure – Community Grant Program