The Mary Kay Ash Foundation has granted $500,000 to the Baylor Scott & White Dallas Foundation to enhance clinical trials focused on triple-negative breast cancer. This funding aims to support early detection initiatives at the Texas Cancer Interception Institute (TCII), which was established in March 2025. The grant reflects the foundation’s commitment to improving outcomes for cancers that disproportionately impact women.
Michael Lunceford, president of the Mary Kay Ash Foundation board of directors, emphasized the organization’s ongoing dedication to advancing early intervention in women’s cancers. “The Mary Kay Ash Foundation remains committed to finding cures for cancers affecting women,” he stated. Lunceford noted that this grant represents a significant step in redefining cancer care.
Funding for Pioneering Clinical Trials
Part of the grant, totaling $100,000, will continue support for the TRIM-EBC clinical trial, led by renowned breast cancer researcher Joyce O’Shaughnessy, MD. This study investigates whether certain weight-loss medications can lower the recurrence risk for overweight breast cancer patients. Findings from this research could influence future treatment guidelines, according to Baylor Scott & White researchers.
The remainder of the funding will bolster the TCII at Baylor Scott & White Health’s Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center. The TCII integrates research with clinical care to implement proactive strategies for early cancer detection. This includes advanced tools such as multi-cancer early detection blood tests and AI-driven analytics, aiming to identify at-risk individuals sooner.
Longstanding Partnership and Commitment to Change
The grant signifies a deepening partnership between the Mary Kay Ash Foundation and Baylor Scott & White, both committed to improving cancer outcomes through innovative research and early detection. Over the past two decades, the Mary Kay Ash Foundation has contributed a total of $1.3 million to the Dallas Foundation. In recognition of this collaboration, the foundation received the Circle of Care Award at the 2025 Celebrating Women Luncheon, an event that has raised over $42 million for breast cancer research and support programs.
“Mary Kay Ash believed in the power of women to change the world — that conviction lives on through her namesake Foundation’s bold commitment to advancing women’s health,” stated Christina Goodman, president of the Baylor Scott & White Dallas Foundation. She highlighted that partnerships with visionary researchers like O’Shaughnessy lead to “extraordinary things” that offer hope and healing to patients.
The Mary Kay Ash Foundation also supports broader global efforts to tackle cancers affecting women. According to company reports, Mary Kay Inc., along with its foundations and charitable funds, has contributed nearly $44 million worldwide to research, education, and support initiatives focused on women’s cancers.
Through this latest grant, the Mary Kay Ash Foundation aims to not only advance scientific research but also transform the narratives surrounding cancer diagnoses. By shifting the focus from reactive treatment to proactive prevention, the foundation is poised to make a lasting impact on women’s health outcomes globally.
