Los Angeles— September 12, 2004 — Today at the closing ceremony of the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer Los Angeles, Avon Foundation Executive Director Carol Kurzig awarded four initial gifts to breast cancer organizations totaling $1,526,000. These gifts represent initial commitments from the $3.2 million already raised by the more than 1,400 participants in the event.

The ceremony, held at Santa Monica Beach, capped a weekend-long event during which walkers covered up to a marathon and a half (39 miles) through Los Angeles and surrounding areas, supported by a staff of volunteer crew members every step of the way. The announcement of grants to breast cancer organizations throughout the Los Angeles County 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 Southern California region,” said Kurzig. “Breast cancer affects everyone, and as long as it exists, so will our commitment to funding initiatives to defeat this disease, in Los Angeles, across the United States and worldwide.”

During the weekend event, the dates for the 2005 Avon Walk Los Angeles were announced – Avon Walk LA Beaches on September 17-18 – and current participants began registering to repeat their experience. Further information is available through www.avonwalk.org

About the Avon Walk Los Angeles

The Avon Walk Los Angeles began early Saturday morning at Santa Monica Beach. Participants traveled through the area’s hip and scenic communities towards the Wellness Village at West Los Angeles College. 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 – Santa Monica Beach — for the closing ceremony celebration attended by hundreds of family and supporters.

About the Avon Foundation New Funding Grants

Los Angeles County/Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in Torrance, CA, will be awarded $500,000 to improve the breast cancer screening and early detection program. Funding will support acquisition of a new ultrasound unit and other diagnostic equipment; a fellow in breast imaging; and a bilingual nurse practitioner and nurse attendant/clerk. The medical center serves the South Bay area with some 1.5 million largely uninsured or underinsured people, 60% of whom fall below the federal poverty level.

Oliveview/UCLA Medical Center in Sylmar, CA, will receive $476,000 in addition to prior Avon Foundation funding. The new funds will support the installation of digital mammography systems to improve access to state-of-the-art screening services, increase the number of screenings and reduce wait time and no-show rates. Expanded staffing will be funded by in-kind support from the hospital. The medical center is the public hospital serving the poorest communities of the San Fernando Valley, where poverty rates are as high as 75%. In October 2002, four of the seven community health centers that partner with Oliveview-UCLA were closed due to budgetary constraints, forcing the remaining sites to accommodate existing patients.

Los Angeles County+USC Medical Center in Los Angeles will be awarded $500,000. LAC+USC is a public, university-affiliated teaching hospital, comprised of General Hospital, Women's and Children's Hospital and affiliated outpatient services and several comprehensive health centers. The funds will be used to staff the new Avon Women's Breast Health Program at LAC+USC, which will coordinate breast health services from prevention to treatment for all women patients among the many sites. A computer database will be developed to support improved patient tracking. The hospital and its affiliates serve predominantly low-income, uninsured or underinsured patients.

Nevada Cancer Institute (NVCI) in Las Vegas will receive $50,000 to fund a patient navigator to support breast cancer outreach, education and access to healthcare throughout the state, especially in rural communities where healthcare resources are very limited. The NVCI was created in 2002 to provide education, support and patient-centered care to all cancer patients, regardless of economic standing, and to develop a comprehensive cancer research institute pursuing innovative translational research in basic, clinical and population science. In Nevada, the five-year survival rate for breast cancer is below the national average, and the state is 48th in the US for women who report ever having a mammogram.

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 Los Angeles and Southern California organizations are beneficiaries of the Avon Foundation, including the Center for Healthy Aging; Indian Health Council, Inc.; Iris Cantor Breast Imaging Center; John Wayne Cancer Institute at St. John’s Health Center; Nhan Hoa Comprehensive Health Care Clinic; University of California at Irvine Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center; Vista Community Clinic YWCA of Glendale; YWCA of the Harbor Area; YWCA of Orange County.

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.