The PSF Calls for Grant Applications to Support Breast Reconstruction Awareness and Financial Assistance

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. - The Plastic Surgery Foundation (The PSF) is now accepting applications for its 2015 Breast Reconstruction Awareness Fund grant programs.

The PSF will award grants to non-profit organizations that provide charitable surgical care to breast reconstruction patients in financial need or that are committed to increasing breast reconstruction awareness and education to women and their families.

The deadline for applications is Friday, April 10, 2015.

"Through The PSF's Breast Reconstruction Awareness grant fund, we are able to contribute to the efforts of organizations around the country whose mission aligns with ours – supporting the women who have experienced a mastectomy or lumpectomy due to breast cancer treatment," said Nicholas B. Vedder, MD, President, The PSF. "Whether it be through financial assistance or through the education of rights and options of breast reconstruction, The PSF is proud to support these deserving charities."

The PSF is currently accepting applications for the following 2015 Breast Reconstruction Awareness Fund grant programs:

Breast Reconstruction Surgery Charitable Care Grants

The PSF will award Breast Reconstruction Surgery Charitable Care Grants, up to $15,000, to U.S. based, tax-exempt public 501 (c)(3) charities that have demonstrated a commitment to providing breast reconstruction surgery charity care. Grant funds must be used to directly support surgery or the surgical care expenses for women having breast reconstruction, particularly for uninsured and underinsured women in underserved communities.

Breast Reconstruction Surgery Public Awareness Grants

The PSF will award Breast Reconstruction Surgery Public Awareness Grants, up to $10,000, to U.S. based, tax-exempt public 501 (c)(3) charities that have demonstrated a commitment to increasing the awareness of breast reconstruction surgery. Grants are awarded to charities with a demonstrated commitment to developing and implementing projects and programs for the purpose of raising the awareness of breast reconstruction surgery options in the community.

Special consideration will be given to organizations that have previously hosted or will be hosting Breast Reconstruction Awareness Day USA events in 2015. Learn about Breast Reconstruction Awareness Day.

Applications should be submitted to research@plasticsurgery.org by April 10, 2015. Additional information regarding grant eligibility and application guidelines can be found at the links above. Announcements will be made by June 1, 2015.

Grants will be awarded for the period beginning July 1, 2015 and ending June 30, 2016. Grants awarded for the 2015-2016 cycle must be used to support programs, surgeries or care that occur within this timeframe.

This is the third year The PSF has awarded funding through its two Breast Reconstruction Awareness Fund grant programs. In 2014, 16 philanthropic organizations were awarded funding totaling more than $200,000 from the charitable care and public awareness grant categories. Since its inception, the Breast Reconstruction Awareness Fund has raised more than $ 931,000 to support research, projects, programs, and the charitable surgical care of women in need of post-mastectomy breast reconstruction.

The Breast Reconstruction Awareness Fund and its grant programs were established through proceeds generated from the nation's first Breast Reconstruction Awareness Day USA held in October 2012. Breast Reconstruction Awareness Day USA occurs annually in October and is part of a Breast Reconstruction Awareness campaign sponsored by The PSF and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).

A large portion of the proceeds generated from Breast Reconstruction Awareness Day USA 2014 came from the generous support of major sponsors including Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation, Allergan, Sientra and CareCredit, as well as through nearly 160 fundraising events held by ASPS members across the country.