Julie Rogers "Gift of Life" Program

With the generous support of Cheniere Energy, Inc., 36 medically underserved women received free Gift of Life clinical breast exams and mammograms on the UTMB Galveston mobile van that was conveniently located at Procter Baptist Church in Port Arthur.

Expanding its women’s health services in collaboration with the Port Arthur Health Department, Gift of Life also offered primary care tests for blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes, as well as education on skin cancer, nutrition, tobacco cessation and HPV.

Cheniere representatives Cindy McGee and Paula Bothe attended the van site, demonstrating the company’s commitment to making this lifesaving initiative available to Port Arthur residents. Cindy, a breast cancer survivor, has a heightened understanding of the vital importance of the Gift of Life’s screenings and diagnostic tests with navigation to cancer treatment for at-risk women who cannot afford medical insurance.

Port Arthur Health Department’s India James educating Gift of Life client on blood pressure and cholesterol

“I am very thankful to Gift of Life and Cheniere for giving me this opportunity to have a mammogram,” a Gift of Life client said. “This has been a great experience. Not only did I receive a mammogram, but they also checked for diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. For someone without insurance like me, this wouldn’t be a possibility.”

Clients consistently expressed appreciation for the services of the Gift of Life and the sponsorship of Cheniere for bringing these critical screenings to their hometown.

“We are honored that Cheniere shares the Gift of Life’s mission of saving lives in Southeast Texas,” said Regina Rogers, Gift of Life Founder and Chair. “At every van site, we provide a depth of services, delivered with a great deal of compassion and love. Cheniere’s sponsorship again this year will help bring peace of mind to dozens of medically underserved Southeast Texas women who lack access to care. We are truly grateful for the company’s endorsement and support.”

Gift of Life’s Andrea Gambino gives anti-tobacco literature to Gift of Life client and daughters

Cheniere Energy, Inc., is a Houston-based energy company, specializing in liquefied natural gas exports. Deeply committed to the communities where its employees live and work, Cheniere dedicates its resources to the critical needs of the region. In the past year, the company has provided more than one million dollars to worthy causes, partnering with organizations and initiatives that support education, medical care and economic development.

Thank you, Cheniere Energy, Inc., for helping the Gift of Life save lives!

Gift of Life founder and chair, Regina Rogers, Gift of Life client, Cheniere Energy, Inc. representative Cindy McGee and Gift of Life Program Services Manager Christina Morris

The Gift of Life is also fortunate to have the support of the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade, a program that strives to increase awareness of the lifesaving benefits of early detection of breast cancer.  For six years, the Gift of Life has benefited from funding through the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade’s Breast Health Outreach Program (BHOP), which funds 56 community outreach and breast cancer screening programs nationwide in an effort to link medically underserved women to breast health education and screening services. Low-income, under-insured, and other marginalized populations often need targeted, customized approaches to help them obtain regular mammograms and clinical breast exams. Through the Avon BHOP, the Gift of Life is empowered to offer these lifesaving services throughout seven Southeast Texas counties.

With the support of Winners for Life, Avon BHOP and other generous donors, the Gift of Life has helped extend the lives of more than 275 Southeast Texans who have been diagnosed with breast or prostate cancer and treated through its efforts.

Last year, the Gift of Life provided nearly 2,300 clinical breast exams and mammograms to medically underserved women, with an additional 430 diagnostic mammograms, 433 diagnostic ultrasounds and 32 biopsies for women who obtained abnormal results. These efforts diagnosed breast cancer in 8 women, all of whom are being navigated through treatment by compassionate Gift of Life case managers and also comforted and encouraged by the Pink Power Network, the Gift of Life’s support group that meets on the third Thursday of each month throughout the year.

The Gift of Life is accepting new client applications. FREE mammograms and clinical breast exams are provided to women with limited income and who do not have private insurance, Medicaid or Medicare, or whose insurance has a high deductible.

To find out if you qualify for a free mammogram, please call the Gift of Life at 409.833.3663 or toll-free at (877) 720-GIFT (4438), or fill out the form below.

Thanks to the extraordinary support of Chevron Phillips, nearly 40 medically underserved Southeast Texas women received free clinical breast exams and mammograms from the Gift of Life.

Chevron Phillips is a worldwide chemical corporation that believes real benefits can be gained by establishing effective relationships within the community. Encouraging organizations that promote private enterprise, health services, education and civic progression has been an investment that has paid great dividends, engendering an internationally-respected reputation founded upon the company’s loyalty and goodwill.

I know that it is crucial that I take care of my health. The opportunity to have a mammogram means the world to me. Thank you to the Gift of Life and Chevron for providing free mammograms to so many women.

– Chevron Phillips mammography client

Chevron has built an enduring legacy of compassion, donating funds to worthy causes and encouraging employees to make a similar positive impact. Since the company’s inception, the corporation has invested more than $15 million (and countless volunteer hours) in communities where its employees live and work.

Each year, Chevron Phillips sponsors a UTMB mobile mammography van site, which has provided nearly 200 free clinical breast exams and mammograms for medically underserved women. The company’s commitment to the Gift of Life’s prostate cancer programs has helped the organization provide primary care tests and prostate cancer treatment for medically underserved Southeast Texas men. Through this initiative, the Gift of Life has provided treatment and support for 69 men diagnosed with prostate cancer at its screenings.

Thanks to wonderful supporters like Chevron Phillips, the Gift of Life has been able to extend the lives of more than 275 Southeast Texans who have been diagnosed and treated through its efforts.

During June, National Men’s Health Month, the Gift of Life with medical partners, Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas, and local healthcare organizations will provide free healthcare screenings and educational materials to reduce disparities and heighten awareness of men’s preventable health problems in Southeast Texas.

June screenings are scheduled in Beaumont, Port Arthur and Orange for eligible medically underserved men who face the greatest barriers to care.  Clients will receive comprehensive primary healthcare services, including on-site consultations with medical professionals to discuss the screenings, the significance of test results, and healthy lifestyle practices, and receive educational information and access to regional resources. The free panel of screenings will include prostate-specific antigen (PSA), cholesterol and glucose, blood pressure, HIV and Hepatitis C tests.

The Gift of Life will also provide breakfast and lunch, door prizes and other health-related incentives.

Regional organizations will participate at the screening sites with representatives from Baptist Hospitals, UTMB, Triangle Area Network, Spindletop Center and Lamar University faculty and students.

These screenings are essential to the ever-increasing need for medical services in our region. Early detection is the best protection and statistics reflect that the five-year survival rate for men whose prostate cancer is diagnosed early is nearly 100 percent.

The Gift of Life screens men who are at least 45 years of age (40 if African American or younger if there is a family history of prostate cancer) who have not had prostate cancer, have limited income and are medically underinsured.

Since 2000, the Gift of Life has made available nearly 8,400 free prostate cancer screenings and helped extend the lives of 69 men who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer and whose diagnostic and cancer treatment costs were entirely underwritten by the Gift of Life.

As part of its continuum of care, the Gift of Life’s Prostate Cancer Support Group, Men Against Cancer offers support for men with prostate cancer, their families and care givers.  Meetings are hosted the second Tuesday of each month at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church and allows men an opportunity to meet others, share their experiences and gain information from featured speakers to strengthen recovery and have one-on-one support.

During Men’s Health Month, the Gift of Life will host screening sites from 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM on Saturday, June 4 in Orange at Lamar State College, Saturday, June 11 in Beaumont at Lamar Institute of Technology and Saturday, June 25 in Port Arthur at the Carl Parker Center.

Pre-registration is recommended and walk-ins will be accepted subject to eligibility.

To register for a screening, please fill out the form below or call the 24-hour hotline at 409.860.3369.

Gift of Life staff and volunteers recently completed the Avon 39, a 39-mile walk in Houston to end breast cancer. Each one raised a minimum of $1,800 to participate in the walk that funds breast cancer research, awareness and education, as well as provides assistance for families currently battling the disease. Avon is a generous supporter of the Gift of Life.

Nearly 35 medically underserved Southeast Texas women received free clinical breast exams and mammograms from the Gift of Life.

Low-income, underinsured and other marginalized populations often need target, customized approaches to help them obtain regular breast cancer screenings. The Gift of Life is empowered to offer these lifesaving services within seven Southeast Texas counties through the support of programs like the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade.

Thanks to extraordinary funding provided by Avon, the Gift of Life can link medically underserved women with breast health education and screening services.

I’m 54 years old and have never had a mammogram. My doctor recommended that I should get screened. I’ve been married for 36 years and have seven children and six grandchildren. I want to see these little ones grow up and have their own kids one day. – Gift of Life Mammography Client

Gift of Life clients benefit from support services that bridge disparities limiting the deliverance of lifesaving care. From childcare, transportation and translation assistance, each client is individually navigated through the organization’s corridor of compassionate care. Upon the diagnosis of breast cancer, Gift of Life clients are provided a case manager who accompanies them through their healing journey and facilitates services to alleviate the emotional, financial and medical pressures accompanying every cancer diagnosis. Since inception, the Gift of Life has diagnosed nearly 200 medically underserved Southeast Texas women with breast cancer and navigated them into treatment.

Though the charitable support of Avon, the Gift of Life can continue providing these essential services to local women in need. Avon’s dedication to this cause illuminates its commitment to helping enhance healthcare services for individuals who cannot afford medical care or insurance.

Endorsing the Gift of Life’s mission to save lives, Tri-Con, Inc. dba Exxpress Mart owners, Imad and Elias Sarkis, implemented a holiday giving campaign at their 20 regional convenience stores, generating nearly $15,000 to further the organization’s health and educational programs.

During the holiday season, Exxpress Mart employees encouraged customers to make a donation to the Gift of Life by purchasing a festive paper reindeer that symbolized their support of the organization and provided much-needed funds for its expansion of healthcare services. Thousands of Southeast Texas residents charitably supported Exxpress Mart’s community initiative, contributing to a unique grassroots effort that benefits individuals residing in the Gift of Life’s seven-county service area.

“Though the landscape of healthcare is changing, one aspect of medical care that hasn’t changed is the critical need for lifesaving cancer screenings and education in our community,” said Regina Rogers, Gift of Life Founder and Chair. “The contributions from Exxpress Mart and its customers are a blessing for the Gift of Life at a time when the need for our services is increasing, while traditional funding avenues are diminishing. We are grateful for this phenomenal show of support because it will truly save lives.”

Leading by example, the Sarkis brothers contributed more than $5,000 of additional funding in loving memory of their beloved father, the late Samir Sarkis, whose extraordinary legacy of hard work and generous spirit inspired them to build a successful family business and give back to the region. The entire donation of $20,000 furthers the Gift of Life’s lifesaving mission throughout seven Southeast Texas counties.

Twenty regional Exxpress Mart locations participated in the Holiday Reindeer Campaign, inspiring a friendly, competitive spirit to raise the most money for the Gift of Life. The top-earning store was Exxpress Mart 12 (located in Lumberton) which raised $4,270. The store managers and employees at the location were celebrated by the Gift of Life with gifts of appreciation for their outstanding performance.

“The Sarkis family is deeply committed to the needs of people in our region,” said Norma Sampson, Gift of Life Executive Director. “Not only did they conceive of this incredible way to help, but their heartfelt connection to individuals who lack access to lifesaving healthcare services was illuminated by the way they actively participated in this campaign. We are humbled recipients of their benevolence and goodwill.”

Additionally, nearly 100 local Southeast Texas convenience stores and businesses also participated in the Gift of Life Holiday Reindeer Campaign, generating benevolent support for the organization’s free healthcare services for local men and women in need and raising critical awareness about the mission of the Gift of Life throughout the region.

Annually, the Gift of Life provides nearly 2,300 free mammograms and clinical breast exams for medically underserved individuals, with follow-up diagnostic evaluations for those who require additional testing and treatment. Additionally, the Gift of Life has made available nearly 8,500 free prostate cancer screenings, with diagnostic and treatment costs entirely underwritten by the organization. Since inception, the organization has helped extend the lives of more than 275 individuals who have been diagnosed with breast or prostate cancer and navigated through treatment and healing.

Local Organization Recognized With Support From National Program

The Avon Breast Health Outreach Program has awarded a $45,000 one-year grant to the Gift of Life Program to increase awareness of the life-saving benefits of early detection of breast cancer. It is the sixth year that the program has received funding from the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade to support its work on this important health issue and in recognition of the program’s excellence.

The Gift of Life Women’s Health Program educates Southeast Texan women and provides them free mammograms and clinical breast exams in their own communities. The vital program also delivers lifesaving education and diagnostic testing, when needed. Clients diagnosed through the Gift of Life are navigated through treatment by expert case managers.

Darla Gleason, mammographer at Baptist Beaumont Hospital; a Gift of Life client; Gift of Life scheduler Martha Suarez; Gift of Life Women’s Health Certified Nurse Practitioner Sandra Bridges; and Gift of Life volunteer Adanna Henry

Since 1994, the Gift of Life has reached more than 100,000 women with information about the importance of early detection of breast cancer and has offered more than 27,000 free mammograms and clinical breast exams.

Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women in the United States.  According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, 16,510 new cases of breast cancer will be detected in Texas this year and 2,710 lives will be lost. While advances have been made in prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure, early detection still affords the best opportunity for successful treatment. Programs such as the Gift of Life help ensure that all women have access to early detection information and options, even poor and medically underserved women.

“Southeast Texas is honored that the Avon Foundation has chosen to support the Gift of Life Program,” said The Honorable Jeff Branick, County Judge of Jefferson County, Texas. “The Gift of Life is invested in the lives of our citizens and does a lifesaving work in our community. The funding provided by the Avon Foundation will further this organization’s critical mission throughout seven Southeast Texas counties.”

Since 1993, the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade has awarded more than 1,800 grants to community-based breast health programs across the United States, including the Gift of Life. The Avon Breast Cancer Crusade awards funding to beneficiaries ranging from leading cancer centers to community-based grassroots breast health programs to support breast cancer research and access to care. Many programs are dedicated to educating underserved women about breast cancer and linking them to early detection screening services. Visit avonbhop.org or more information.

The Avon Breast Health Outreach Program is administered by Cicatelli Associates Inc. to support community-based, non-profit breast health programs across the country.  The Gift of Life is one of 56 new grant recipients nationwide in the 2016 cycle of Avon Breast Health Outreach Program grants.  These organizations were chosen based on their ability to effectively reach women, particularly minority, low-income, and older women, who are often medically underserved.

For more information on the Gift of Life Women’s Health Program, please call 409.833.3663. To learn more about the Avon Breast Health Outreach Program, visit www.avonbhop.org.

Nearly 500 guests, including more than 150 breast, prostate and ovarian cancer survivors, celebrated life and love at the Gift of Life’s annual Survivors Celebration. Dedicated in loving memory of Mary Jane Garth, the event was generously supported by Total and Exxonmobil to recognize the tremendous courage of those who have fought valiantly in the battle against cancer.

From October through January, local law enforcement took a lifesaving stand for neighbors in need by boasting beards for an innovative Beards for Breast Cancer Campaign. By making generous donations and growing facial hair, these “boys in blue” demonstrated their support of the Gift of Life Women’s Health Program, which provides lifesaving cancer screenings for local women who lack insurance or cannot afford their high deductibles.

The Gift of Life acknowledged the valiant efforts of these everyday heroes at a Pink Shave-Off at the Loft Hair Salon in Beaumont. A portion of the participating officers unveiled their new appearance after a therapeutic hot shave provided by Loft stylists.

“These men are heroes,” said Gift of Life Founder and Chair Regina Rogers. “Every day they risk their lives in service to our community. Though they already protect our lives, they made an additional commitment to save lives by donating to this important cause. We are humbled by this display of love and generosity.”

Annually, the Gift of Life provides more than 2,200 free clinical breast exams and mammograms, in addition to diagnostic testing and access to treatment for medically underserved Southeast Texas women. Since the program’s inception, the Gift of Life has extended the lives of nearly 200 women who were diagnosed with breast cancer through these efforts.