SAN ANGELO, Texas —
The annual Laura W. Bush Institute for Women's Health fundraising luncheon was held Thursday at Angelo State University with special guest former reality show contestant/television host, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, as its keynote speaker.
The institute is dedicated to improving the lives of women and girls and to promote health, education and outreach in the Concho Valley, Texas and across the nation.
Former ‘The View’ host, Survivor contestant, FOX News co-host, mother and wife, Hasselbeck, advocates for women to take their health seriously.
“I'm so thankful to be here at the Laura W. Bush Institute for Women's Health, where we're able to just partner in this community to reach women that are worthy of great health care, are worthy of mammograms in this area.” Hasselbeck said.
With Hasselback's mother being a cancer survivor, she encourages women to put their health first and make it their number one priority
“I know for myself, a natural, sacrificial way, what we think is good is putting our own appointment or figuring out where we go for that second screening or who do we contact for. It can end up being a long, slow pick up where we almost forget ourselves in the process. So, we do need to be each other's advocates and reminders to get those exams.” Hasselbeck said.
The luncheon served as the institute's annual fundraiser for its mammogram program and educational outreach programming.
For women seeking a mammogram in West Texas, Shannon's Imaging Center has a program in place to get it done free of charge, in partnership with the LWBIWH.
The LWBIWH Mammogram Program provides preventative breast-health services free of cost to those in the Concho Valley and surrounding counties who qualify. The Educational Outreach Programming includes events like "Girl Power," which provides girls in 4th - 7th grades the opportunity to learn about self-esteem, mental health, and the importance of women's health education going forward. Programming also includes the "Girls Night Out" event at ASU, which provides college-age women with information on campus resources, personal safety, self-defense, mental health, and much more.
“Women need to feel need to know that they can feel comfortable in giving us a call so that we can take care of them. We're more than happy to guide them and to help them in any way that we can. Even if women need other resources, they're free to call our program, and we will guide them elsewhere.” Shannon Imaging Center mammogram administrator, Rosa Monsivais, said.
To learn more about the mammogram program, call 325-942-2531.
To learn how the Laura W. Bush Institute for Women's Health works to empower and educate women, go to laurabushinstitute.org.