Adelphi NY Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline & Support Program Receives Grant for $383,300

The Adelphi NY Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline & Support Program has received a grant of more than $380,000 from New York state. State Sen. Kevin Thomas, along with his state Senate colleagues, helped secure funding from the state budget.

The $283,300 portion goes toward its general program, including the hotline and counseling. Another $100,000 is allocated for the BEST (Breast, Education, Screening, and Treat) program, navigating patients through breast cancer. Nassau County ranks eighth in the state in breast cancer diagnoses.

Hillary Rutter, executive director of the program, said, “The Adelphi NY Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline & Support Program wants to thank Senators Thomas and Kaminsky and the entire Long Island delegation for recognizing the important work that we do in providing information, support and hope to thousands of people with, and/or concerned about breast cancer each year. By securing grants totaling $383,000, we are able to continue our free hotline, counseling, education and outreach services to all New Yorkers and to provide culturally competent education and patient navigation programs in our underserved communities on Long Island.”

Next year is the 40th anniversary of the Adelphi breast cancer program. It receives no support financially from Adelphi University, making this state funding even more urgent.

There are numerous support groups at the University and patients can anonymously call the toll-free hotline, where they’ll speak to one of the 100 specially trained volunteers, who are themselves breast cancer survivors.

Photo caption: From left, Christine Amatulli, hotline volunteer and breast cancer survivor; Hillary Rutter, executive director, Adelphi NY Breast Cancer Hotline & Support Program; Kevin Thomas, New York state senator from Garden City (at lectern); Todd Kaminsky, New York state senator from Rockville Centre; and Jeff Flynn, hotline volunteer and breast cancer survivor.