Desert Women For Equality in the Coachella Valley
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Here you can find out what events are coming up and see photos from previous events sponsored by DWE...You will also see what Issues DWE is focusing on and where we are focusing our involvement...

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Desert Women for Equality

555 S. Sunrise Way, Suite 209
Palm Springs, CA 92264.
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Free MammogrFree Mammograms 2010 Schedule

Upcoming Events

Coming Soon!

Committee Happenings

Monthly Meeting Minutes:

  • Coming Soon!

 

News Press Releases

Headlines:

  • April 12, 2009
    The Board of Directors for Desert Women for Equality (DWE) is pleased to announce the successful completion of its 'We Care' Free Mobile Mammogram Clinic on April 8, 2009, in Thousand Palms.  The Shenandoah Springs clinic in Thousand Palms was made possible by a generous grant from the Desert Healthcare District.
    Click to preview headline  
  • March 30, 2009
    The Board of Directors for Desert Women for Equality (DWE) has partnered with the Desert Healthcare District to plan its second 'We Care' Free Mobile Mammogram Clinic for Thousand Palms on April 11 in the Shenendoah Springs clubhouse....
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  • January 8, 2009
    The Board of Directors for Desert Women for Equality (DWE) and its Jean O’Leary Scholarship Committee are pleased to announce the award of three scholarships for students attending the College of the Desert in January 2009....
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  • November 30, 2008

    For Immediate Release
    Desert Women for Equality's final "We Care" Free Mobile Mammogram clinics provided free mammograms to 111 women in the final two clinics of 2008, bringing the program's grand total to 921 free mammograms since its inception!... Click to preview headline

  • October 4, 2008

    For Immediate Release
    For more information on this press release, please contact Donald W. Grimm, Ph.D., Vice-President, Desert Women for Equality (760-325-7401)Click to preview headline

  • First Thousand Palms Clinic succes
    Sixty-six women were on hand on July 12th at Shenandoah Springs (Tri-Palms) to receive a mammogram.  This was the first clinic... Click to preview headline

  • Desert Healthcare District (DHCD) has awarded a $40,000 grant to Desert Women for Equality's innovative and successful "We Care" Free Mobile Mammogram Program...Click to preview headline

Photo Gallery

DWE Photos 2007-2008
(Click image to view larger photo)

 


LETTER FROM SHARON & VIV CO-CHAIRS

Hello All,

Ninety-seven mammogram's were completed at the DHS clinic which began at 8:30 AM.  It was a very busy but smooth clinic with many appreciative tearful women attending which continues to remind us why we do this.

We actually touched 103 women but some appeared with lumps that needed a immediate referral and a couple were  too young and again referred to Borrego.

The Senior Center held a Health Fair which started about noon and joined in with the clinic, so women had other offerings available.

As always our volunteers did an outstanding job and kept things moving along well.  Nilda worked very hard with the Spanish ladies and Vilma also came in a bit later in the morning and stayed thought the clinic so communication was not an issue.  Carol and Pauline worked the check in and Sharon just worked.

This was a Desert Healthcare District Clinic in one of their  favorite communities.  This was the ninth clinic given in DHS.

Next stop is Desert Aids Project 100 Women Health Fair for Women in September and it is full for appointments.  Hours there will be 8 AM-3 PM.

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THOUSAND PALMS CLINIC MARKS 2000TH MAMMOGRAM

On Saturday, April 17, 2010 eighty (80) women received a free mammogram making it a "landmark" day for DWE. Just after lunch break DWE's 2000th woman was honored by our president, Barbara Barrett, who presented her with a dozen pink tipped roses.  Our honoree was surprised and very grateful as she and DWE were applauded by the women filling out their paperwork and waiting for their turn.  We said "See you next year" as she left smiling.  It was a day to remember!

By the day's end our total number of mammograms completed since June 2006 was 2,024.   It was a long and exhausting day for our volunteers--Sharon, Viv, Pauline and Barbara but all also left smiling.

Notably this clinic was unique in that there were very few “no shows” and a steady flow kept the volunteers very busy.  Representatives from Borrego Springs also attended the clinic giving HINI flu shots , a glucose test and making appointments for pap smears for our women who wanted these additional services.  Also a few women presented with lumps and Borrego will be referring them on for an immediate appointment with a doctor.

The “We Care” clinic will return to Shenandoah Springs in 1000 Palms again on July 14th for a second 2010 clinic at that location.  DWE is extremely grateful to the management of Shenandoah Springs for allowing us the use of their Crafts Building and facilities during the clinics-- this was the 4th clinic held at Shenandoah Springs, Thousand Palms.

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RECORD CLINIC 0F 104 MAMMOGRAMS IN MAY

Seventeen women lined up for a “Walk-in” appointment before 8:00 AM at the May 12, 2010 clinic held at the Eleanor Shadowden Senior Center in Coachella even though the first appointment was scheduled at 9:00 AM. By 9:30 AM, 24 mammograms had already been given to the uninsured and underinsured women of our Valley.

This flow continued throughout the busy day and at the end of the clinic a total of 104 mammograms had been completed and an exhausted DWE team and technicians closed up the clinic.  Additionally, seven other women in need of help were also referred directly but not given a mammogram.
The heavy walk-in numbers throughout the day, 25 in total, pushed the clinic to a new all-time record and brings to date 2, 128 women who have been served by our outstanding “grass roots” program.
Thirty-nine per-cent of the mammograms given at this clinic were women who were returning for a second, third or fourth mammogram and remains a testimony to the new awareness of women and their greater understanding of self-care.

The Coachella site is a favorite and nearly 650 of our total mammograms to date have been given at that site to women from all cities since June 2006.

Channel two news appeared at the clinic and interviewed several persons on site and also made available on the news our upcoming schedule for the balance of 2010.  Regional Access Project representatives also visited the clinic in progress and saw firsthand the use of their generous grant which in a large part made the clinic possible that day.

A second 2010 clinic in Coachella will be held November 16, 2010 and appointments are already being booked by the DWE volunteers.

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Medically Uninsured or Underinsured?
Free Mammograms

2010 Clinic Schedule
Wednesday
  May 12  - Coachella
Wednesday
  June 16  - Cathedral City
Wednesday
  July 14 - 1000 Palms
Tuesday
  Aug 10  - Desert Hot Springs
Saturday
  Sept 18  - Palm Springs
Saturday
  Oct 16 - Flying Doctors
Tuesday
  Nov 16 - Coachella
Wednesday
Dec 8 - Cathedral City
No ImplantsMust be 40+
For Specific dates, locations & an appointment call
Desert Women for Equality at

760-325-4701
 

Pie Chart

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PALM DESERT CLINIC BRINGS HIGHEST % RETURNS TO DATE

The mammogram clinic recently held at Joslyn Center in Palm Desert not only served 79 women but identified  38% of that number to be women returning for a 2nd, 3rd or 4th mammogram with “We Care”.
This clinic was made possible by the Desert t Health Care District grant which will fund West Valley clinics through 2010.
Along with mammography the clinic offered free flu shots which were provided by The Borrego Group along with other information.  The Riverside County Volunteer Program was also on site with assistance information regarding “help” resources throughout the county of Riverside and always translation assistance.
One of the women attending the clinic, a single Mom with 3 children, received a mammogram and afterward shared the fact that she has been laid off from work and was unable to meet the cost of COBRA.   She also shared the fact she has high family risk for breast cancer, Mother and sister, and needed to stay well for her children.   She was so grateful to DWE for this wonderful program.
Those stories keep us working month after month and knowing that we are saving lives every time.  The Palm Desert clinic reported 7 women being referred for further testing.

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SEVENTY-THREE WOMEN SERVED IN PALM SPRINGS DESPITE COMPLICATIONS

A FIRST-TIME VEHICLE PROBLEM created headaches at the Palm Springs February clinic and forced it to be held at two different screenings when one of the Mammography carrying equipment vans was unable to make it to the February 13, 2010 screening due to a mechanical problem.  Forty-one women were screened at the Golden Rainbow Senior Center by the one arriving unit and the remaining women were rescheduled for a makeup clinic on March 6th again at the Golden Rainbow.
On March 6, 2010 the make-up clinic was indeed held and 32 women were screened bringing the Palm Springs total to 73 total woman receiving mammograms from the Palm Springs area.  Our thanks to the Golden Rainbow for allowing us to utilize their facility twice within two weeks.
To date there have been over 250 actual Palm Springs residents who have received one or more free mammograms from our program and we have reached out to the City of Palm Springs to assist us in continuing the fight to serve women of their city.
The completion of this clinic brought the total mammograms of our program to over 1900.

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87 WOMEN RECEIVE MAMMOGRAMS AT DESERT HOT SPRINGS

The Desert Hot Springs free mammogram clinic again reached enormous numbers by serving another 87 women of the Coachella with either a first time or an ongoing mammogram.
This “grass roots” solely volunteer program continues to reach the women who are without doctors and/or insurance in these tenuous times.  Desert Hot Springs clinics are held twice a year in January and August and continues to serve 85-100 women at those clinics.
The “We Care” free mammogram will continue to hold clinics monthly throughout the Coachella Valley and women are urged to call 760 325-4701 between 10am and 1pm to book an appointment.
The clinics are funded by grants and donations and screening mammograms are offered to all women over 40 years of age without implants.
To date this program has donated 1790 free mammograms and has 10 clinics left in 2010.  To inquire about locations call the above number of visit the web site: desertwomenforequality.com


MAMMOGRAM CLINIC BOOKING FOR 2010 IN PROCESS

The office volunteers of Desert Women for Equality have begun booking mammogram appointments for 2010 and report steady activity.
Clinics planned for the first quarter of 2010 are Desert Hot Springs at the DHS Senior Center, January; Palm Springs at The Golden Rainbow Senior Center, February; and Palm Desert in March at The Joslyn Senior Center.
These three clinics are made possible through generosity of The Desert Healthcare District Grant which was awarded in 2009 and will end December 31, 2010.  The Desert Healthcare District recognizes the need for medical accessibility to assure ongoing mammogram screening for uninsured and undersured women in the Coachella Valley and are strong supporters of “We Care”
All remaining clinics for 2010 have been set and are also available for booking at this time.  An appointment may be made by calling 325-4701 Monday-Friday.

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FLYING DOCTOR’S OFFER MAMMOGRAPHY FOR THE FIRST TIME.

Desert Women for Equality and “We Care” were honored to be a part of serving the hundreds of people who attended the Bi-annual Los Medicos Valadores Clinic on Saturday, November 14, 2009.
Fifty mammograms were given to women ranging in age from 40 to 79 years of age and in most cases having a mammogram for the first time in their life.
This clinic was unusual to “We Care” in many ways because several women under 40 years of age also were requesting help and presenting with a medical breast problem.  These women were referred immediately to other facilities that could potentially assist them.  Additionally ten other women who met the 40 year requirement also presented with immediate breast problems and again they were referred to other facilities for assistance.
“We Care” offers screening mammograms with is the accepted tool in routine health care at one year intervals.  Women who are symptomatic are not given screening mammograms and are referred for immediate care to receive more in depth studies to potentially identify problems at the earliest opportunity.
Desert Women for Equality plans to participate in the March and November 2010 Flying Doctors Clinics with expanded services to offer a greater number of women an opportunity to receive a screening mammogram.

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Clinic Stories Worth Sharing…………….


A Story…….
Recently a woman attended our DHS clinic and related to us, “that a friend  referred her to DWE since she did not have insurance”.  This was not unusual but what was the rest of the story was more unusual, her friend was currently undergoing chemo which followed a “positive” finding of the friend’s mammogram which was also given at one of our ”We Care” clinics as well.  Another “in time” intervention.

Another story……..A friend of one of our board member’s mother sought a mammogram with us several months ago.  Sadly or gladly the friend’s mother was found to require further testing as a result of the mammogram and a “stage 4” tumor was detected.  She was referred for additional care through “Every Woman Counts”.   Our board member Just recently found out the friend’s mother is doing just fine right now.  A life saved or extended.

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