Press Releases
Year
Access to care provided through It’s All in the Jeans campaign
Media Contacts
Gina Marsh, Presence Covenant Medical Center
217-337-2917
Amy Roberts, Public Relations
(217) 531-4264 /
Access to care provided through It’s All in the Jeans campaign
Foundation at Presence Covenant Medical Center partners with Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) to award $10,000 for mammography screenings
Urbana, Illinois (September 4, 2013) - With $10,000 from Presence Covenant Medical Center’s Foundation, Robin Newhouse is one of more than 675 names on a waiting list for mammography screenings who now has an opportunity to schedule this vital breast cancer detection procedure. “It’s a huge relief to be able to get my mammogram,” says Newhouse who doesn’t have access to health insurance through either of her part-time jobs.
Unfortunately, Robin Newhouse’s story is all too common in the Champaign–Urbana Public Health District’s service area. “These funds are essential,” says Cathy Propst, Illinois Breast & Cervical Cancer Program Coordinator at CUPHD. Propst says her program is dependent on grant funding to reach as many women as possible, and the proceeds from Presence Covenant’s Foundation will make a significant impact in reaching more women in need. “We are seeing declining support from state and federal sources. These scholarship funds are extremely important to assure local women have access to mammograms. Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in women. However, if it is detected while still in its earlier stages, breast cancer can be successfully treated. Routine mammograms and breast exams can detect cancer early and provide women with better treatment options and results.”
All of the screenings for patients utilizing the scholarship funds will take place at Presence Covenant Medical Center, and all of the dollars raised for mammography come through the Foundation’s annual It’s All In the Jeans Day campaign. This workplace campaign, now in its tenth year in Champaign-Urbana, asks companies to allow their employees to pay $5 to wear blue jeans on the first Friday in October. Many companies agree to match or sponsor the program, which has raised more than $130,000 since its inception.
This is the first year, however, for the mammography scholarships, which has been a longstanding goal of the campaign. “We are thrilled to partner with the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District to offer these screening scholarships,” says Angela Reinhart, Development Specialist with Presence Covenant’s Foundation. Reinhart says she expects more than 5,000 participants and 100 companies to participate in this year’s campaign, which is scheduled for Friday, October 4th.
In addition, Reinhart is working closely with local organizations like the breast cancer support group at Christie Clinic, Young Survivors of Champaign-Urbana and the American Cancer Society to hold the third annual Go Pink event on Wednesday, October 2nd at the I Hotel and Conference Center. This event is free to the public and serves as the kick off to It’s All In the Jeans Day. The event will include a spa room, photo booth, purse raffle, speakers, and our expert panel to answer any questions you have as a patient, caregiver, or just in general.
Those interested in registering for It’s All In the Jeans Day or learning more about the program are encouraged to visit the program website: http://presencehealth.org/jeans-urbana or call 217.337.4714.
About Presence Covenant Medical Center’s Foundation
The Foundation at Presence Covenant supports the hospital through a comprehensive program of philanthropic support, stewardship and community impact. Donor funds support capital needs, restricted and designated healing and hope funds and income endowment funds that award community impact FAITH2 grants and offsets incidental health care expenses for the poor. Total Foundation assets locally managed through our investment partners total nearly $8 million.
About C-UPHD
The mission of the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District is to improve the health, safety and wellbeing of the community through prevention, education, collaboration, and regulation. For more information on CUPHD and available services, visit www.c-uphd.org.
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Increased West Nile Virus Activity in Champaign County
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 19, 2013
Contact
Jim Roberts, Director of Environmental Health (217) 531-2909
Amy Roberts, Public Relations
(217) 531-4264 /
Increased West Nile Virus Activity in Champaign County
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District/Champaign County Public Health Department Urges Residents to Take Precautions
Champaign, IL – Several mosquito samples have recently tested positive for West Nile virus (WNV). “This is the time of the year that we expect to see an increase of WNV between the bird and Culex mosquito populations. It is important for people to now take precautions to help prevent WNV,” said Jim Roberts, Environmental Health Director at the ChampaignUrbana Public Health District (CUPHD).
Actions you can take to limit exposure to WNV are:
- Drain standing water
- Mosquito-proof your home
- Apply insect repellent*
- Wear long sleeves and pants, when weather permits*
- Consider limiting outdoor activity*
*Take extra care during the peak mosquito hours from dusk to dawn.
West Nile virus is transmitted to birds through the bite of infected mosquitoes. Only about two people in 10 who are infected with WNV will experience any illness. Illness from WNV is usually mild and includes fever, headache and body aches, but serious illness such as encephalitis, meningitis and death are possible. Serious illness can occur in people of any age; however, people over 60 years of age are at the greatest risk for severe disease.
Information about WNV activity can be found on the CUPHD website at http://www.c-uphd.org/west-nile-virus.html.
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Upcoming Event to Support Breastfeeding Moms
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 30, 2013
Contact
Linda Steinberg, Peer Counselor (217) 531-4292
Amy Roberts, Public Relations
(217) 531-4264 /
Upcoming Event to Support Breastfeeding Moms
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District to Host The Mommy and Baby Expo this Saturday
Champaign, IL –The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Peer Counseling Program will be hosting The Mommy and Baby Expo in conjunction with The Big Latch On August 2-3, 2013. This event is to increase awareness for mothers on the breastfeeding support services available to them throughout the community. Additional information will be available including prenatal care, labor and delivery options, postpartum care, infant care and health and wellness information. All events are free and open to the public.
The Mommy and Baby Expo
Saturday, August 3 - Lincoln Square Mall, Urbana (west wing)
9:00 AM – Noon
The Mommy and Baby Expo – Information will be available about pregnancy, postpartum and breastfeeding support services throughout the community, Illinois breastfeeding laws, breastfeeding-friendly businesses, employers and daycares and what you need to know to about successfully breastfeeding while working outside of the home. Free samples and raffles, including a double electric Medela breast pump, will be offered. This expo is also open to all pregnant women and new moms interested in breastfeeding information and resources; children are welcome.
The Big Latch On
Friday, August 2 – Champaign-Urbana Public Health District, Champaign
Saturday, August 3 – Lincoln Square Mall, Urbana (west wing)
9:30 – 11:30 AM
The Big Latch On – It is a fun way to meet other breastfeeding moms and be a part of an event that gets recorded every year in the Guinness Book of World Records. Participants will sign up upon arrival and at 10:30 AM everyone participating in The Big Latch On throughout the U.S. will latch their nursing babies at the same time for two minutes. The goal is to increase the number of participants each year. Snacks and beverages will be provided.
Linda Steinberg, Peer Counselor at the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD), said “We want to help community mothers reach their individual breastfeeding goals by empowering them with information and support.” According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one of the most highly effective preventive measures a mother can take to protect the health of her infant is to breastfeed; however, in the United States, although most mothers hope to breastfeed, and 75 percent of babies start out being breastfed, only 15 percent are exclusively breastfed six months later.
For more information, follow The Mommy and Baby Expo on facebook or visit www.c-uphd.org.
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