SAVANNAH — The Susan G. Komen Coastal Georgia Affiliate announced at its annual awards luncheon Tuesday that it is awarding $357,017 for services including breast cancer screening, education, diagnostic services and patient navigation.

That brings the total investment in coastal communities to more than $2 million since the affiliate’s inception.

“It often surprises people to learn that support for our affiliate is raised here and stays here,” Aileen Gabbey, executive director for Susan G. Komen Coastal Georgia, said. “Seventy-five percent of funds raised benefit the nine counties we serve, and the remaining 25 percent is devoted to research for a cure.”

This year, the Coastal Georgia affiliate supported seven grants to programs in Coastal Georgia, including the Liberty County Health Department’s BRAVE III Project.

“Each month in our service area, 12 women are diagnosed with late-stage breast cancer,” Komen Coastal Georgia board president Sarah Denmark said. “We stress the need for screenings for underserved women in our community because early detection saves lives. The five-year survival rate for early diagnosis is 98 percent.”

Komen Coastal Georgia encourages programs designed for screenings and education.

“In the last five years, our affiliate has provided support for over 7,000 screenings,” Julie Schwartz, the affiliate’s mission coordinator, said. “Our community profile identifies our service area’s needs so that we can reach the women and men most in need of help.”

The majority of funding for these community grants is generated through the Savannah Race for the Cure, which is scheduled for April 16 in Savannah’s Ellis Square. For more information about Komen Coastal Georgia and Savannah Race for the Cure, go to www.komencoastalgeorgia.org.