About Us

Los Angeles County Komen for the Cure Facts

  • $4 million has been distributed in the LA County Affiliate's 10 years
  • The Eleventh LA County Race for the Cure was held Sunday February 25, 2007 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena - 10,000 participants
  • The Twelfth LA County Race for the Cure® will be held Saturday March 15, 2008
  • First LA County Race for the Cure® held February 18, 1996 - 4,000 participants.
  • Notable LA County Affiliate celebrity spokespersons: 2006 - Jennifer Love Hewitt; 2005 - Mary Steenburgen; 2003 - Jorha Fox (CBS TV's "CSI") who lost one of her best friends to breast cancer; 2002 - Marg Helgenberger (CBS TV's "CSI") whose mother is a breast cancer survivor; 2001 - Christina Applegate whose mother and manager are both breast cancer survivors
  • Chapter incorporated as affiliate charter granted July 1996 

What the Los Angeles County Affiliate Does

The Los Angeles County Affiliate raises funds to support local breast cancer services and national breast cancer research programs.  A major focus is to help women who have symptoms of breast cancer but cannot afford diagnostic work or treatment - either because they do not have health insurance or because their insurance company will not pay.  Of all breast cancer foundations, Komen is the only organization where 75% of the net proceeds stay in the communities where they are raised. 

How the Los Angeles County Affiliate Raises Funds

The major fundraiser for the Los Angeles County Affiliate is the Komen Los Angeles County Race for the Cure® held adjacent to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.

In addition, the Los Angeles County Affiliate raises money through two other major events held in October during Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Knit for the Cure®'s Knit in the City and Fashion for the Cure®.  Many other events presented by committed companies, organizations and individuals are held in October and throughout the year with the goal of raising funds to benefit the Los Angeles County Affiliate.

The Los Angeles County Affiliate also participates in national Komen events including Passionately Pink for the Cure® and Wacoal Fit for the Cure®.

How the Funds Are Distributed

In order to ensure that local funding addresses the unmet breast health needs in LA County, the Komen Los Angeles County Affiliate conducts an annual assessment to determine where gaps in breast cancer services exist and then selects local grant recipients, designs special projects for collaboration and gives awards to bridge these gaps to hospitals, clinics, support groups and other organizations supporting breast cancer education, screening, diagnostic procedures, treatment and support services throughout the County of Los Angeles.

The Los Angeles County Affiliate has been particularly instrumental in helping to fund programs for women and men under 40 who reside in LA County and who are not eligible for state or federal programs.

The 25% balance of the net funds raises supports the Komen Foundation's National Grant Program that is regarded as the most innovative and responsive grant program in breast cancer research today.

Speaker's Bureau

The Los Angeles County Affiliate Speaker's Bureau offers outreach programs to groups and organizations to increase awareness and knowledge of breast health practices.  Topics can include inspiring survivor stories, the Komen Foundation and the programs it supports, and general breast health practices.  To book a speaker, call the Los Angeles County Affiliate office at (626) 577-2700.