(Bay Shore, New York) - Lorraine Pace, Co-President, Breast Cancer Help, Inc., says she supports New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman's actions to shut down the Coalition Against Breast Cancer and that organizations such as those which raise money under false pretenses do not represent legitimate breast cancer organizations.
On June 28, the New York State Attorney General's office filed a lawsuit against Coalition Against Breast Cancer, an organization based in St. James, New York, that fraudulently raised millions of dollars under the guise of fighting breast cancer. The organization raised $9.1 million over a five-year period, yet only less than 4% went to the cause it claimed to support. The rest of the money went to pay for exorbitant fundraising fees, lavish salaries and benefits packages, cell phones, home phones, TV and Internet services. The lawsuit also charges both CABC and its fundraising arm, Campaign Center, with violating New York State's not-for-profit and charitable solicitation laws.
The lawsuit further claims that CABC advertised it had a relationship with Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, when no such relationship existed. The organization also told donors the money would go to fund breast cancer research, a mobile van for mammograms and support seminars and forums for breast cancer survivors and their families - none of which was true.
"We support Attorney General Schneiderman's actions against CABC and Campaign Center," Ms. Pace said. "Organizations such as CABC cast a negative light on other legitimate breast cancer organizations. Breast Cancer Help raises funds through legitimate means and every dollar goes to the fight against breast cancer and the services and support programs we provide to survivors and their families. We urge the attorney general's office to impose the harshest actions possible against this fraudulent organization."
For more information on Breast Cancer Help, Inc., call (631) 675-9003 or visit www.breastcancerhelpinc.org.
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Breast Cancer Help, Inc. is a not-for-profit grass roots organization with a focus on action and advocacy to eradicate breast cancer. Founded in 1994 by Lorraine Pace, a two time breast cancer survivor, and Father Thomas Arnao, Breast Cancer Help, Inc. uses a four pronged approach to promoting education and awareness of breast cancer issues. The first of these prongs is the West Islip breast cancer mapping project initiated by Lorraine Pace, which mobilized patients and pinpointed breast cancer clusters. This original mapping project, which spearheaded the breast cancer environmental movement, has now spread to other parts of New York, the U.S. and internationally. Since its inception, the group's goal has been to raise awareness and promote education for the cause, treatment, and cure of the disease; while maintaining a focus on action and advocacy to eradicate breast cancer. It has accomplished this by mobilizing patients into coalitions leading to breast cancer mapping projects, serving as advocates to change state and local laws to protect breast cancer patients, and working to bring about positive changes in protecting the environment. Breast Cancer Help, Inc. has helped to ensure that Long Islanders have access to the best possible diagnosis and care through the purchase of cutting edge medical and research equipment. It has also supported research at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. In 2003, Breast Cancer Help opened its Long Island Cancer Help and Wellness Center, now located at 1555 Sunrise Highway, Suite 7, in Bay Shore to provide increased cancer awareness to promote education and early detection while providing patients and survivors with much needed support.