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12.12.08 - The Southwestern Montana Mammography Program: Prevention Yields Success and Support
The Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation recently donated $10,000 to the Barrett Hospital Foundation's Southwestern Montana Mammography Program.
Barrett Hospital is a Critical Access Hospital licensed for 20 beds by the State of Montana, and has a primary patient referral service area encompassing over 10,000 square miles to include Madison County and portions of Silver Bow and Jefferson Counties. Lead Mammography Technologist, Lesli Cottom recognized the need for a stronger connection between the hospital and women in the surrounding areas, particularly those women under the age of 50 who were either uninsured or underinsured. These women represent over half the female population of Southwestern Montana and many are at risk for developing breast cancer.
Through her work, Cottom became increasingly concerned with the lack of free program services for low-income women under the age of 50 who were diagnosed with breast cancer. “For many of these women if something was found, it was like, well, what then?” said Cottom. To help these women, Cottom started putting together care baskets containing books, educational materials, massage oils and other items paid for out of her own pocket. As she visited with these women, she knew that many of them should have been receiving regular mammograms and perhaps their illness could have been caught earlier.
In 2007, 2008, and now 2009 the Southwestern Montana Mammography Program received grants from the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation to help support and continue this highly successful program. “We are so grateful and honored to have the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation associated with us, “said Harrington. Other program supporters are the Dillon Safeway employees, who conduct annual fundraisers every October for National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, KCI Servant’s Heart Foundation, San Antonio, Texas, NorthWestern Energy, Butte, The Razors Edge, Dillon, The Safeway Foundation, Bellevue, Washington, Susan G. Komen for the Cure –Montana, Helena, (four grant awards), The University of Montana-Western Foundation, Dillon Jaycees, and the Jaycee Auxiliary who teamed up this year at the local Labor Day Rodeo.
“To date, we have raised over $145,000 through foundation grants, generous business and community donations. This has gone from a dream to a thought to reality,” said Harrington. The Southwestern Montana Mammography Program is a shining example of the type of program the Washington Foundation seeks to fund. Not only has the program been incredibly successful, but its infrastructure is sound
Photo from left to right: Mona Peshehonoff and Ruth Jackson, Dillon Safeway Store Representatives, Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer, Steve Hannah, CEO, Barrett Hospital & HealthCare, Deb Bradley, President, Barrett Hospital Foundation, Cindy Briggs, former Executive Director, Susan G. Komen for the Cure-Montana (currently employed for Komen National in Dallas, TX), and Mike Halligan, Executive Director, Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation.
