Take a Bite Out of Cancer
TTUHSC El Paso, L&F Distributors and El Perro Grande Tequila Announce Initiative to Raise Funds for Breast Cancer Screenings
Announcement celebrates Breast Cancer Awareness Month
L&F Distributors has partnered with El Perro Grande Tequila for the benefit of Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso and Texas Tech Physicians of El Paso.
L&F Distributors will contribute to the breast cancer awareness mini-campaign, “Take a Bite Out of Cancer,” at Texas Tech Health El Paso to raise funds to provide breast cancer screenings for El Pasoans in need. El Perro Grande Tequila is donating $5 per bottle sold during October toward this initiative.
Every dollar contributed by L&F Distributors and El Perro Grande Tequila will cover the expense of mammograms that could save a life with early detection. The expense associated with each mammogram is $185.
"In the spirit of compassion and community, L&F Distributors is proud to stand with Texas Tech Health El Paso in the fight against breast cancer,” said Tony LaMantia, director of Wine and Spirits at L&F Distributors. “My grandmother had breast cancer and passed away from it at the age of 50. It was a big thing for us. When we found out about this partnership opportunity we were immediately on board. Our commitment to supporting breast cancer awareness and providing screenings for those who cannot afford them reflects our belief that together, we can bring hope, health and strength to every woman in need."
Renard Johnson, the founder of El Perro Grande Tequila, said giving back to the community has always been part of the plan for his company.
“When we looked at ways to make a difference locally, we immediately knew this was the cause we needed to support,” Johnson said. “We’re proud to dedicate a portion of our sales to breast cancer screenings in El Paso for women who may otherwise go without,” Johnson said. “Our commitment to both quality of our product and care for our community shines through, as we create a future where no woman is denied the care she deserves."
The announcement coincides with Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time to highlight the benefits of early detection and prevention.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among American women and the most common cause of death from cancer among Hispanic women in the United States, according to the National Cancer Institute.
The American Cancer Society reports that approximately 1 in 8 women will experience a breast cancer diagnosis. In the last decade, El Paso County has seen a rising trend in its breast cancer incidence rate, as indicated by National Cancer Institute data compiled by Healthy Paso del Norte. El Paso County has a breast cancer incidence rate of 106 cases per 100,000 women, which is lower than Texas’ overall rate of 113 per 100,000 women.
Breast cancer screenings play a pivotal role in treating and preventing cancer, but screening rates remain low, especially among Hispanics and residents of low-income communities.
A History of Giving to Texas Tech Health El Paso
As Texas Tech Health El Paso champions, L&F Distributors and Renard Johnson have supported the university’s mission of closing gaps in health disparities and providing access to health care and education to residents of our Borderplex region.
L&F Distributors, under the ownership of the LaMantia family, have been longtime supporters of TTUHSC El Paso. In 2020, they collaborated with TTUHSC El Paso to introduce the Stars Scholarship Fund to support future health care professionals for the El Paso region, which has been historically underserved.
The LaMantia family and L&F Distributors played a pivotal role in providing a Hunt School of Nursing student with a complimentary one-year lease for a Nissan Kicks in 2021. L&F Distributors paid for the vehicle lease, allowing then-student Angela Lopez to focus on her studies. She graduated at the age of 19 and is serving the community as a nurse at El Paso Children’s Hospital.
In another instance of philanthropy, Johnson made a generous donation to the Hunt School of Dental Medicine in 2021 to create the Alvin T. and Louise E. Johnson Family Scholarship. The scholarship is named after his parents, who taught him the importance of giving back to the community.
About Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso
TTUHSC El Paso is the only health sciences center on the U.S.-Mexico border and serves 108 counties in West Texas that have been historically underserved. It’s a designated Title V Hispanic-Serving Institution, preparing the next generation of health care heroes, 48% of whom identify as Hispanic and are often first-generation students.
Established as an independent university in the Texas Tech University System in 2013, TTUHSC El Paso is celebrating 10 years as a proudly diverse and uniquely innovative destination for education and research. According to a 2022 analysis, TTUHSC El Paso contributes $634.4 million annually to our Borderplex region’s economy.
With a mission of eliminating health care barriers and creating life-changing educational opportunities for Borderplex residents, TTUHSC El Paso has graduated over 2,000 doctors, nurses and researchers over the past decade, and will add dentists to its alumni beginning in 2025. For more information, visit ttuhscepimpact.org.