March 4, 2009
Contact: Jamie Arehart (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. --267-350-7699 or 717-405-2443)

Linda Creed Celebrates Women's History Month with New Look

PHILADELPHIA-Weeks before Whitney Houston's version of "The Greatest Love of All" hit number one on the charts in 1986, the song's original co-writer, Philly soul lyricist Linda Creed, lost her battle with breast cancer. In 1987, as friends and family established a nonprofit breast cancer organization named in Creed's honor, Congress expanded the celebration of National Women's History Week to the entire month of March.

"Linda Creed honors a woman, was founded by women, is run primarily by women, and serves women," says Fran Orodeckis, director of development for Linda Creed. "Perhaps it's kismet that the year Linda Creed was formed is the same year March was declared Women's History Month."

Though diagnosed with breast cancer at 26, Creed, a Mt. Airy native, kept on working, teaming with composer and producer Thom Bell to produce a series of hits that contributed to the Philly soul sound of the 70s and 80s. With the same determination as Creed had toward her career, Linda Creed dedicates itself to assisting local women in the early detection and treatment of breast cancer. With the goal of reducing unnecessary suffering and death associated with the disease, the organization identified a strong, unmet community need: free mammography screenings for uninsured and underinsured women. "Most of the women we serve are working women who don't have health insurance," says Donna Duncan, executive director of Linda Creed.

When Linda Creed began operating 22 years ago, it was the first breast cancer nonprofit organization in Pennsylvania and the only one to offer free mammograms to women. Since its inception, Linda Creed has partnered with local hospitals to provide free screenings and diagnostic testing to more than 8,000 women in the region and evolved to include various programs educating women on breast health.

"What really sets our organization apart from others is our grassroots community approach. We provide a personal connection and commitment that comes from a smaller organization," says Duncan. "From providing a free mammogram to helping a woman pay for treatment or even a blouse so she can recover in comfort, we're there with our clients helping them to fight the disease all the way."

Twenty-two years after March was declared Women's History Month, Linda Creed, now an affiliate of Public Health Management Corporation (PHMC), a nonprofit public health institute with over three decades of experience running direct service programs, is rebranding itself to better communicate its unchanged and ongoing commitment to empower and educate women regarding breast cancer's signs and symptoms.

In October, Linda Creed announced its new, shortened name (formerly Linda Creed Breast Cancer Foundation) and tagline: Fighting Breast Cancer with Heart. This month, the organization unveils its new look. "Women's History Month is the perfect time to debut the new logo and launch our rebranding," explains Duncan. "The heart symbol in the logo carries a strong message of unity, connection and compassion that transcends language and culture. We also have a strong female figure in our logo that represents all of the women we serve and, of course, Linda who's legend remains a part our local community. "

For more information on Linda Creed, please visit www.lindacreed.org

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About Linda Creed
Linda Creed, an affiliate of Public Health Management Corporation, was formed in 1987 to educate women about breast cancer's signs and symptoms. Today, in addition to education, Linda Creed carries out it mission by providing direct services in the form of free mammograms and diagnostic tests for women with little or no medical insurance, directed to services they do qualify for, and by offering financial assistance for women undergoing breast cancer treatment. As a national advocate, Linda Creed looks to the future by working with researchers, legislators, and policy makers in funding and shaping long term solutions to breast cancer.