NFL Crucial Catch - October 25

About A Crucial Catch

The NFL, its clubs, players, the NFL Players Association and the American Cancer Society are committed to saving lives from breast cancer, and addressing the unequal burden of cancer in underserved communities.

Our campaign, "A Crucial Catch", in partnership with the American Cancer Society, is focused on the importance of annual screenings, especially for women who are 40 and older. Throughout October, NFL games will feature players, coaches and referees wearing pink game apparel, as well as additional on-field and in-stadium branding - all to help raise awareness for this important campaign. Much of the apparel worn at games by players and coaches, along with special game balls and pink coins will be auctioned off at NFL Auction, with proceeds benefiting the American Cancer Society’s Community Health Advocates implementing Nationwide Grants for Empowerment and Equity (CHANGE) program.

This year, all NFL markets will be supported with American Cancer Society grants funded by A Crucial Catch. Over the past three years, American Cancer Society CHANGE Grants, have educated 72,000 women on the benefits and importance of breast cancer screening with more than 10,000 free or low-cost screenings performed. This lifesaving work continues in 2014 and was expanded into all 32 NFL team markets reaching more of the women who need us most. Since the launch of the grant program in 2012, the number of recipients has consistently risen.

A Crucial Catch Day

On October 25, the American Cancer Society, grant-funded community health system partners, and the NFL are teaming up to launch its first nationwide, breast cancer event – A Crucial Catch Day — to provide breast cancer education and free or low-cost screenings within specific underserved communities.

About Grant Recipient Communities and Their Events

These grant-funded communities will conduct focused outreach, education and breast cancer screening for underserved women on Saturday, October 25: Atlanta, Georgia; Baltimore, Maryland; Brandywine, Maryland; Buffalo, New York; Charlotte, North Carolina; Cleveland, Ohio; Columbus, Ohio; Dearborn, Michigan; Denver, Colorado; Fort Worth, Texas; Greenfield, Massachusetts; Houston, Texas; Indianapolis, Indiana; Jacksonville, Florida; Kane County, Illinois; Kansas City, Missouri; King County, Washington; Miami, Florida; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Nashville, Tennessee; New Orleans, Louisiana; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Phoenix, Arizona; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Port Chester, New York; Riverside, California; Sacramento, California; Salinas, California; St. Louis, Missouri; St. Paul, Minnesota; Tampa, Florida.