Kay Yow Cancer Fund Awards $100,000 Grant to HonorHealth in Phoenix During Women's Final Four - Kay Yow Cancer Fund 2026

Kay Yow Cancer Fund Awards $100,000 Grant to HonorHealth in Phoenix During Women’s Final Four

• PUBLISH DATE: April 3, 2026
• TAGS: access, Grant, honorhealth, Phoenix, Women's Final Four

Raleigh, NC (April 3, 2026) – The Kay Yow Cancer Fund has awarded a $100,000 grant to HonorHealth in Phoenix to support women undergoing cancer treatment, continuing its annual investment in the Women’s Final Four host city. The grant marks the 18th year the organization has provided funding in the Final Four host community, supporting local programs that assist women facing cancer.

The funding will help provide financial assistance and cooling caps, helping women undergoing chemotherapy manage the cost of treatment while also reducing hair loss during care.

The grant is made possible through the nationwide support of coaches, players, officials, and fans who rally each year through Play4Kay and other initiatives that benefit the Kay Yow Cancer Fund.

“Each Women’s Final Four is an opportunity for our community to make a meaningful difference beyond the game,” said Jenny Palmateer, CEO of the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. “On behalf of coaches, players, officials, and fans nationwide, we are proud to support HonorHealth and the women in the Phoenix community who are facing cancer. These grants reflect the power of the women’s basketball community when it rallies around a cause bigger than the game.”

HonorHealth, one of Arizona’s largest nonprofit health systems, serves patients across the Phoenix area and provides a range of cancer care services. The grant will expand resources available to women undergoing treatment.

“We are incredibly grateful to the Kay Yow Cancer Fund and the entire women’s basketball community for this generous support,” said Todd LaPorte, HonorHealth CEO. “This funding will help us provide meaningful assistance to women undergoing cancer treatment, easing the financial burden of care and offering resources like cooling caps that can make a difficult journey just a little bit easier for patients and their families.”

For nearly two decades, the Kay Yow Cancer Fund has honored Coach Yow’s vision to invest in the host city of every Women’s Basketball Final Four by supporting local programs that directly serve women battling cancer. Since its founding in 2007, the organization has awarded more than $11 million to support cancer research and programs that support the fight against all cancers affecting women.

Together, the women’s basketball community continues to drive progress in cancer research and access to care—showing that we are louder, stronger, and unstoppable together.

About the Kay Yow Cancer Fund

The Kay Yow Cancer Fund was officially founded on December 3, 2007, from the vision of the organization’s namesake, Kay Yow, former NC State University head women’s basketball coach. Coach Yow was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1987 before succumbing to the disease on January 24, 2009.

The Kay Yow Cancer Fund is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization committed to raising money for life-saving cancer research, supporting programs that provide access to quality cancer healthcare to the underserved, and uniting people in the fight against all cancers affecting women. To date, the Kay Yow Cancer Fund has awarded $11.1 million in the fight against all cancers affecting women. For more information on the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, please visit KayYow.com.

HonorHealth is one of Arizona’s largest nonprofit healthcare systems, serving a population of five million people across the greater Phoenix metropolitan area and Florence, Arizona. With nine acute-care hospitals, an expansive medical group offering primary, specialty and urgent care, a comprehensive cancer care network, outpatient surgery centers, clinical research, medical education and community services, they help their patients protect and preserve their most valuable asset – their health – through a unique combination of collaborative care and approachable expertise.

Their vision is simple: To be the partner of choice in transforming healthcare for their communities, driven by their values and a commitment to delivering the best experiences and services to you, your family and your communities.

Kay Yow Cancer Fund Contact

Kris Bowen // kris.bowen@kayyow.com