ST. LOUIS – SSM DePaul Health Center is the recipient of a $6,000 Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation grant. The grant will be used to fund the 2004 "Empower and Engage" program at the health center.

"Our ‘Empower and Engage’ program helps us identify and serve women who need breast health education," said Melinda Clark, SSM DePaul president/CEO. "The Komen Foundation grant will allow 60 women to receive vital information and diagnostic tests next year."

SSM DePaul has offered "Empower and Engage" for three years, with more than 120 women participating to date. In each half-day session, the women receive information about breast cancer prevention and detection and undergo a screening mammogram.

This year, SSM DePaul Health Center celebrates 175 years of providing exceptional health care for St. Louis-area residents. SSM DePaul, located at I-70 and I-270, is the first hospital established west of the Mississippi and is the oldest continuously operating business in St. Louis. Today, as a part of SSM Health Care, DePaul provides advanced medical technology in the areas of cardiac, cancer, emergency, seniors and women’s health while promoting a healthy community through a variety of educational programs.