KALAMAZOO, MI – Thanks to the community support for the 2011 Borgess Tree of Love campaign, hundreds of low-income women without health insurance will receive potentially lifesaving gifts in the New Year—free mammography services.

“Because of the generosity of area residents, we exceeded our goal of $50,000 ($51,001),” said Kim Loftus, CFRE, development officer, Borgess Foundation. “While more women than we expected will be helped by this extraordinary kindness, we encourage those who still wish to contribute to do so. The holidays may be officially behind us, but the need for support of these vital services continues to grow.”

The actual goal was “topped” through a generous donation from Dr. Dean J. Copely, who also served as one of the campaign’s physician champions.

Major sponsors of this year’s campaign included Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan; Cole Buick-GMC-Cadillac; Hall Render Killian Heath &Lyman; Kalamazoo Amusement; Miller Johnson, Attorneys and Counselors; Sanford Tolchin, MD; The Surgical Group of Southwest Michigan; The Tyler Little Family Foundation; and Julia and William Van Domelen.

Since 1985, the Borgess Tree of Love campaign has helped countless women receive free mammography services to identify breast cancer. The campaign also provides an opportunity for donors to honor employees, colleagues, family and friends. The names of donors and those receiving this special tribute are listed on the Web site, and honorees receive an acknowledgement card in the mail.

The Borgess Foundation still welcomes tax-deductible donations at treeoflove.borgess.com. Donor forms are also available for mail-in contributions by calling (269) 226.8100. CJ’s Pub (1027 Schuster, Kalamazoo) will also hold its annual breast cancer dart tournament on Saturday, January 28, beginning at 4 p.m. Proceeds will again benefit the Borgess Tree of Love. To learn more, call (269) 343.4577.

Every $8 donation to the Tree of Love campaign helps a woman receive a mammogram, while allowing the donor to honor or remember someone special. Every $80 donation sponsors a mammogram for a woman and allows the donor to honor or remember up to 10 people.

It’s estimated that one in every five women does not have insurance that covers breast cancer detection services, such as mammography. Several studies have shown that mammograms can reduce a woman’s risk of dying of breast cancer.