TD Bank, through the TD Charitable Foundation, has awarded a $15,000 grant to Pardee Hospital Foundation’s Women Helping Women program to increase Pardee Hospital’s breast cancer screenings and medical care to uninsured women in Henderson County and neighboring communities.

“At TD Bank, our hope is to educate and create awareness about health issues that impact the lives of so many people in our communities,” said Charles Frederick, Western NC Market President for TD Bank. “The Pardee Hospital Foundation’s Women Helping Women Fund has made a significant impact on the community and we are proud to support their efforts.”

This new grant from TD Charitable Foundation will enable Pardee Hospital to screen and care for 45 or more additional uninsured patients in the coming year.

“Pardee Foundation is extremely grateful to TD Charitable Foundation for this grant,” said Sharon Koffman, who chairs the Women Helping Women Committee. “This generous Women Helping Women grant will help remove the financial barriers that prevent many patients from receiving needed mammograms and life-saving medical treatments.”

Pardee Hospital Foundation’s Women Helping Women Fund was established in 1998 to raise funds to help lower the high incidence of breast cancer in Henderson County and neighboring communities. At that point, Henderson County had the second highest incidence rate of breast cancer in the state.

The Women Helping Women program, which has raised more than $1.6 million to provide nearly 1,000 uninsured patients with life-saving and life-extending cancer screenings and medical care, has recorded dramatic results. These funds have enabled Pardee Hospital to increase its breast cancer screenings and medical treatments, which has helped lower Henderson County’s incidence rate for breast cancer, now well below the state average. Grants and funds raised by Pardee Foundation have helped Pardee Hospital purchase mammography, biopsy and other critical medical equipment.