San Francisco, July 10, 2005 — San Francisco and the surrounding areas are about to see an increase in health care and other services for families who may face breast cancer. Today at the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer Closing Ceremony at Golden Gate Park/Speedway Meadow, Avon Foundation President Kathleen Walas announced gifts totaling $2,000,000 to six breast cancer research and care organizations. These gifts are in addition to the millions of dollars previously awarded to breast care initiatives in the region by the Avon Foundation, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.

Today’s gifts will be given to: University of California San Francisco Comprehensive Cancer Center and the San Francisco General Hospital, Alameda County Medical Center, Marin County Breast Cancer Watch, Stanford Medical Center and CityTeam Ministries and Project Open Hand. Proceeds from the Avon Walks are awarded by the Avon Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity, to organizations that support the Avon Foundation mission of access to care and finding a cure for breast cancer, with a focus on the medically underserved.

“These institutions we recognize today share our mission, and we are grateful for everything they do and are proud to provide funding to help support their great work in the community,” Walas said.

The funds distributed at today’s ceremony were part of the $4.3 million raised by the more than 1900 dedicated women and men from throughout the state and nation who participated in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer San Francisco. These individuals walked up to a marathon and a half throughout the Bay Area this weekend, covering up to 26.2 miles Saturday and camping out overnight before continuing another 13.1 miles on Sunday. Walkers were supported by an all-volunteer crew throughout their journey, as well as cheering stations manned by family and friends.

This was the third year the Avon Walk has come to San Francisco, and the Avon Foundation has already announced it will be back July 8-9, 2006. “This weekend, we walked in San Francisco for every mother, every sister, every daughter and son here and throughout the country who is touched by breast cancer,” Walas said, “The spirit was unforgettable and the impact undeniable.”

About the Gifts and Beneficiaries
The new gifts were awarded at the closing ceremony to ensure funds immediately benefit the community. The beneficiaries are:

The University of California San Francisco Comprehensive Cancer Center and the San Francisco General Hospital partnership will receive $1 million in new funds, bringing the total UCSF/SFGH support since 2001 to $13.7 million for breast cancer research, community outreach and education, and “safety net” medical care to underserved populations. The new funds will support equipment, personnel and research, including: surgical equipment for the Avon Comprehensive Breast Care Center at SFGH; high risk breast cancer genetic counseling and screening; a pilot clinical study to investigate the causes of breast cancer; and staffing, including a genetic counselor, patient navigators, researchers, and a van manager for the Avon-SFGH mobile mammography program.

The Alameda County Medical Center in Oakland, which is the sole public hospital on the east side of San Francisco Bay, received $500,000 for patient navigation staff, a program coordinator and new mammography reading station to deliver quality breast care to the underserved populations of Oakland, who are mostly treated for breast cancer at the Highland Hospital of Alameda County Medical Center.

The Marin County Breast Cancer Watch in San Rafael received $150,000 for operating support as well as a Research Program Coordinator to further their research on the possible environmental impact on breast cancer. The newly-funded research will be in partnership with the National Institutes for Environmental Health Sciences and UCSF.

Stanford University Medical Center received $150,000 for a pilot study of the Healing Partners Program to scientifically examine the quality of life impact of the “Healing Touch” alternative medicine treatment, which will be used to manage the side effects of breast cancer treatment. Funding will support the coordinator, training workshops and materials. If significant impact is observed, the program will apply to the NIH National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine for further funding.

CityTeam Ministries in San Francisco was awarded $100,000, bringing total Avon Foundation funding to $200,000 since 2003. CityTeam Ministries is a grassroots organization dedicated to providing food, shelter and healthcare to the homeless in eight cities in the U.S. The new funding will support staffing for the breast cancer screening initiative for homeless women launched with the initial gift in 2003, and will also provide access to the Avon-SFGH mobile mammogram program.

Project Open Hand was awarded $100,000 to develop nutrition education and meal delivery to low-income homebound people in San Francisco suffering from breast cancer. Project Open Hand is one of four unique nutrition programs for breast cancer patients supported by the Avon Foundation in the U.S., which together form a virtual network of nutrition services among the underserved population. Other programs are in Boston, New York and Washington, DC.

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, celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. The Foundation manages and disburses the net proceeds from the Avon Walks to support access to care and finding a cure for breast cancer nationwide, with funds awarded for awareness and education; screening and diagnosis; access to 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. From 1992 through 2004, the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade has raised and awarded more than $350,000,000 in 50 countries worldwide to breast cancer research and care organizations. Funds are raised through a wide variety of special events, product sales, walks, runs, concerts and other initiatives in addition to the Avon Walks.

The complete 2005 Avon Walk series includes: Charlotte, NC (April 16-17); Washington, DC (April 30-May 1); Boston, MA (May 14-15); Chicago, IL (June 4-5); Denver, CO (June 25-26); San Francisco, CA (July 9-10); Los Angeles, CA (September 17-18); New York, NY (October 1-2).

The Avon Walk for Breast Cancer is generously supported by National Sponsors Novartis Oncology and RYKÄ, Official Sponsors Airplus for Her and Crystal Light, and Official Water FIJI,

For more information about the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, visit www.avonwalk.org or call 877-WALK-AVON.