Gov. Blagojevich announces former lottery superintendent memorialized with Carolyn Adams Ticket for the Cure Grant Fund

SPRINGFIELD - In memory of former Illinois lottery superintendent Carolyn Adams who recently lost her battle with breast cancer, Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today announced he will introduce legislation renaming the Ticket for the Cure Fund from which grants are awarded for breast cancer education efforts, research and supportive services for breast cancer victims, the Carolyn Adams Ticket for the Cure Grant Fund.

"Carolyn Adams' work at the Illinois Lottery included the extremely successful launch of Ticket for the Cure, which has raised more than $3 million to breast cancer patients. Those proceeds will help many women in Illinois in their fight against cancer and I want us to remember the person who worked so hard to make Ticket for the Cure a success, even while she was fighting her own battle against breast cancer," said Gov. Blagojevich.

State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago), the original sponsor of the legislation that established the Ticket for the Cure Lottery game, said "It's an honor to be part of this effort. Carolyn Adams was one of the main reasons the Ticket for the Cure was such a successful initiative. She brought creative ideas to the process and was great from the marketing aspect. I cannot think of a better tribute to a woman so devoted to a cause."

"I think Carolyn Adams would be proud and renaming the fund is a deserving tribute," said Adams' best-friend Melody Spann-Cooper. "She worked very hard and loved her job. She always said that we have to find a way in our jobs to do good things for other people, which is how she came up with the concept for Ticket for the Cure. While going through her own battle with breast cancer, Carolyn had good health insurance but knew others did not. She decided to use her energy to help those who are underserved and I think this is a great idea."

In 2005, Gov. Blagojevich signed a law initiated by state Senate President Emil Jones (D-Chicago) and Sen. Hunter to create the Ticket for the Cure. Launched in January 2006, Ticket for the Cure is the nation's first lottery dedicated to helping fund breast cancer early detection, education, research, and patient services throughout the state.

This past February Gov. Blagojevich announced $2 million in Ticket for the Cure community grants to 41 community and health organization across Illinois to provide breast cancer education, support services and screenings. More than 100 not-for-profit institutions and organizations applied for the grants which ranged from $10,000 to $85,000 and will continue through June 30, 2008.

Net revenue from the sale of Ticket for the Cure is deposited into an interest bearing account in the State Treasury now called the Carolyn Adams Ticket for the Cure Grant Fund. The Illinois General Assembly appropriates this money solely to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), which awards grants to public and private entities in Illinois. The Ticket for the Cure Board, a special advisory board, reviews and recommends all grants funded by Ticket for the Cure revenue.

The Ticket for the Cure Board in conjunction with IDPH set parameters for governing the number and size of grants awarded based upon the amount of money generated each year through the sale of tickets.

For more information on the Ticket for the Cure please visit www.illinoislottery.com.
Women can find out how to get breast and cervical cancer screenings and treatment through the Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program by logging on to www.cancerscreening.illinois.gov. For more information on women's health and programs visit www.idph.state.il.us or call the Women's Health Line at 888-522-1282. For TTY (hearing impaired use only) call 800-547-0466.