San Francisco— July 11, 2004— Today at the closing ceremony of the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer San Francisco, Avon Foundation President Kathleen Walas awarded five initial gifts to breast cancer organizations totaling $1,700,000. These gifts represent initial commitments from the $4.3 million total raised by nearly 2,000 participants in the event.

The ceremony, held at Speedway Meadow in Golden Gate Park, capped a weekend-long event during which walkers covered up to a marathon and a half (39 miles) through the San Francisco area, supported by a staff of volunteer crew members every step of the way. The announcement of grants to breast cancer organizations throughout the Northern California area was a high point of the celebration shared by participants, family and friends. Additional funding announcements will be made later in the year.

“Each of these institutions makes a significant difference not just to the individual patients they serve, but to everyone in the Northern California region,” said Walas. “Breast cancer affects everyone, and as long as it exists, so will our commitment to funding initiatives to defeat this disease on both individual and universal levels, from San Francisco to the United States to the entire world.”

During the weekend of the Avon Walk, the dates for the 2005 San Francisco, CA, event – July 9-10* – were announced, and current participants started registering to repeat their experience. Further information is available through info.sanfrancisco@avonwalk.org.

About the Avon Walk San Francisco
The Avon Walk San Francisco began early Saturday morning at Speedway Meadow in Golden Gate Park. Participants traveled through the area’s historic and scenic communities towards the Wellness Village at Crissy Field. Walkers had a choice of walking a half marathon (13.1miles) or full marathon (26.2 miles) route on their first day. At the Village, their home away from home for the night, participants celebrated their first day’s journey with yoga, massage and entertainment. The Village also provided the essentials to keep participants comfortable, including sleeping tents, hot showers, prepared hot meals and comprehensive medical services.

Throughout the weekend, a dedicated all-volunteer crew cared for the walkers, ensuring their safety and supporting their needs. In addition, friends and family came out to visit their loved ones and show support along the route and at the Wellness Village.

Today, Sunday, all walkers completed the final half marathon (13.1 miles), returning to their point of origin – Speedway Meadow in Golden Gate Park — for the closing ceremony celebration attended by hundreds of family and supporters.

About the Avon Foundation New Funding Grants
Contra Costa Health Services (Martinez) received a gift of $500,000 to increase by 20% their capacity to provide screening and follow-up services for the vulnerable, medically underserved population of the area. Contra Costa is a core "safety net" hospital in this county, providing care for over 1 million uninsured and Medical patients. The new grant was developed through the Avon Foundation's new "Supporting the Safety Net" initiative. Funds will support increased utilization of their mobile mammography unit and an increase in patient navigation and administrative staff.

San Francisco General Hospital (SFGH) (San Francisco) received an additional gift of $500,000 through the Avon Foundation's new "Supporting the Safety Net" initiative to support operational costs for the mobile mammography unit which is being donated to SFGH by the UCSF Comprehensive Cancer Center. The van is equipped with digital mammography equipment compatible with the units installed at the newly dedicated SFGH Avon Foundation Breast Center, and so will work seamlessly with operations there. An additional 3,500 women per year will be screened, decreasing backlog and waiting time for these women, which is currently 6-9 months. With this new gift, Avon Foundation funding to date for SFGH/UCSF totals $12.7 million.

Charlotte Maxwell Complementary Clinic (Oakland) received a gift of $300,000 to support expansion of its services within Oakland and to San Francisco. The clinic opened in 1992 as a state-licensed primary care facility and provides a comprehensive range of free complementary alternative medicine treatments and social services to address the concerns low-income women face every day in their dual struggles with cancer and poverty. Volunteer service providers offer acupuncture, massage, Chinese and Western herbs, homeopathy, therapeutic imagery and bodywork, along with social work services, an in-home program, organic produce and bread, transportation, and informal support. The Clinic's complementary alternative therapies offer relief from the terrible rigors of cancer and the side effects of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy— including pain, nausea and fatigue - to women who would otherwise not be able to avail themselves of such healing care.

Marin Breast Cancer Watch (San Rafael) received a renewal gift of $100,000 for general operating support, so they may continue the community-based participatory research on the environment and its possible links to breast cancer, conducted in partnership with UCSF. Part of this gift will also support the group's work with adolescents, both in education and research regarding risk factors. Their first Avon Foundation gift of $100,000 enabled them to work with UCSF to develop the program.

Women's Cancer Resource Center (Oakland) received a first-time gift of $300,000 to support a variety of important initiatives aimed at navigating monolingual, Spanish-speaking women through cancer screening and diagnostic services at Highland Hospital. Initiatives include in-home support groups, referrals to other enabling services (e.g. social workers, financial assistance), in-hospital navigation services and outreach and education at health fairs and other community workshops.

About the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer
The Avon Walk for Breast Cancer series is a project of the Avon Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity, which also manages and disburses the funds raised. All net proceeds from the Avon Walks are returned to the breast cancer cause nationwide to support awareness and education; screening and diagnosis; treatment; support services and scientific research. Beneficiaries range from leading cancer centers to community-based non-profit breast health programs, with a focus on reaching the medically underserved and a mission to fund access to care and finding a cure for breast cancer. For more than a decade, the Avon Foundation Breast Cancer Crusade has been raising significant funds and awareness for the breast cancer cause. Since 1992, the Avon Crusade has raised and awarded more than $300,000,000 to breast cancer research and care organizations worldwide. Funds are raised through a wide variety of special events, product sales, walks, runs, concerts and other initiatives in 50 countries.

Several additional greater San Francisco and Northern California organizations are beneficiaries of the Avon Foundation, including the Bay Area Breast & Cervical Health Collaborative and the YWCA of Sacramento.

The 2004 national sponsors for the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer series include Novartis, Health Magazine and RYKÄ, footwear for women; FIJI is the Official Water and United Airlines is the Official Airline.

*Avon Walk 2005 schedule subject to change