Florida Breast Cancer Foundation funds 11 groups with $146,440 in education grants

The Florida Breast Cancer Foundation awarded $146,440 in 2026-2027 Education Grants to 11 organizations across Florida. The funding will support breast cancer education, early detection, navigation and survivorship programs, including efforts aimed at rural and underserved communities.

Why it matters: - The grants support programs that help Florida residents get breast cancer information, access care earlier and stay connected to support services. - The funding reaches rural and underserved communities, where barriers to education and navigation can delay diagnosis and treatment. - Florida’s End Breast Cancer specialty license plate and other resident contributions help make the grants possible.

What happened: - The Florida Breast Cancer Foundation awarded $146,440 in 2026-2027 Education Grants to 11 organizations across Florida. - The grants will support breast cancer education, self-advocacy, patient navigation, prevention, early detection and survivorship programs. - Karen Patti, executive director of the Florida Breast Cancer Foundation, said the organizations are doing life-changing work and helping people avoid navigating breast cancer alone.

The details: - Grant recipients include Big Bend Rural Health Network in Tallahassee; Premier Mobile Health Services Corporation in Fort Myers; 305 Pink Pack in Coral Gables; and Libby’s Legacy Breast Cancer Foundation in Orlando. - Other recipients are Blossoming Butterfly Inc. in Gainesville; Rural Women’s Health Project Inc. in Gainesville; Charlene’s Dream, Inc. in Daytona Beach; and Community Health Center of West Palm Beach. - Additional grants went to Sistaah Talk Inc. in Miami; Florida Department of Health Jefferson in Monticello; and Glimmer of Hope Foundation Inc. in Fort Lauderdale. - Program names include We Are One!, Earlier is Better: Breast Cancer Education & Self-Advocacy Initiative, 305 Pink Pack Conecta y Conversa, and Seed to Survivorship – From Prevention to Life After Breast Cancer. - Other funded efforts include Breastology Tour, Creando Nuestra Salud, Charlene’s Dream: A Community Cancer Support Center – Education Grant, Community Health Worker/Patient Navigator, My Sistaah’s Keeper, Empowered Through Knowledge: Breast Cancer Education, and SHOW YOU CARE, BE AWARE. - Funding comes from purchases of Florida’s End Breast Cancer specialty license plate, voluntary contributions made when obtaining or renewing a Florida driver license or vehicle registration, and contributions from Pickups for Breast Cancer. - Patti said those contributions allow the foundation to direct resources into Florida communities and support programs that matter to people affected by breast cancer. - The foundation says it serves all 67 Florida counties. - FBCF says it has awarded $16 million through 493 grants since 1993 and has helped educate, support and empower more than 818,000 people. - Since the Education Grant program launched in 2005-2006, FBCF says it has awarded more than $1.63 million in education grants. - The foundation’s website is FloridaBreastCancer.org. - FBCF’s social accounts listed in the release are Instagram, Facebook and X.

Between the lines: - The grant mix suggests FBCF is investing in community-based outreach, navigation and survivorship, not just awareness. - The inclusion of Spanish-language and local health-focused programs points to an emphasis on access and culturally tailored education. - The funding model ties donor behavior and state vehicle transactions directly to cancer support work, which broadens the foundation’s revenue base beyond traditional philanthropy.

What’s next: - The 11 grantees will use the funding during the 2026-2027 grant cycle to deliver local education and support programs. - FBCF said it will continue using proceeds from specialty plate sales, license and registration contributions, and Pickups for Breast Cancer to support future grants.

The bottom line: - Florida Breast Cancer Foundation is channeling statewide, grassroots funding into local programs meant to help more women find breast cancer information, care and support sooner.