BOCA RATON, Fla. - Throughout the 2016-17 academic year, Florida Atlantic University Athletics will work to promote breast cancer awareness and raise funds for breast cancer research through a partnership with Susan G. Komen® South Florida and sponsor Modernizing Medicine.

"We are fortunate to have student-athletes, coaches and staff who continuously look for ways to impact our community," said Pat Chun, FAU's vice president and director of athletics. "The partnership with the Susan G. Komen Center of South Florida provides a wonderful opportunity to help raise awareness and funds in support of breast cancer research."

The department is utilizing its athletic programs as a platform to raise awareness and much-needed funding for breast cancer research by selling t-shirts and collecting donations at specific FAU sporting events. The first event will be Sunday, Oct. 16 when women's soccer hosts Marshall at 1 p.m. The second event will be Friday, Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. when the volleyball team hosts LA Tech. Additional events will be held in February and more information will be released at that time.

"I am very proud of our partnership with Susan G. Komen®," said Kim Dunn, associate professor and faculty athletics representative. "Having recently been diagnosed with breast cancer, I am truly grateful for our student-athletes' commitment to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research. Their efforts will support advances in diagnosis and treatment providing women with outcomes better than ever before."

Those who cannot attend either of those matches can still get involved and make a difference by donating to the campaign HERE.

"There has never been a better time for Komen to partner with FAU [athletics] to increase awareness about breast cancer," said Dayve Gabbard, executive director of Susan G. Komen® South Florida. "We recently launched our Bold Goal to reduce the nation's 40,000 breast cancer deaths by 50 percent in 10 years by improving access to quality and timely cancer care for the underserved, and enhancing Komen's research focus on lethal breast cancers. FAU is truly More Than Pink™ by seeking ways to act, donate and get involved to save lives and we are incredibly grateful for their support."

"As a former board member and treasurer for the South Florida affiliate of the Komen South Florida Race for the Cure®, I am impressed with FAU Athletics' initiative to raise funds to help combat breast cancer, and raise awareness for the disease and for Komen," shares Karen O'Byrne, chief financial and operating officer at Modernizing Medicine. "Our team and specifically participants of our Modernizing Medicine Women in Innovation and Technology (MMwit) initiative look forward to cheering for the Owls in the upcoming games."

- FAU -

Florida Atlantic University Athletics:

FAU Athletics is comprised of 21 intercollegiate teams involving 450 student athletes that compete in baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, indoor and outdoor track, indoor volleyball, sand volleyball, cheer and dance. The Owls are a NCAA Division I-A (FBS) institution and compete in Conference USA. The Owls have been playing football since 2001 and have captured two bowl games. The dance team finished its 2014 season No. 8, nationally.

About Florida Atlantic University:

Florida Atlantic University, established in 1961, officially opened its doors in 1964 as the fifth public university in Florida. Today, the University, with an annual economic impact of $6.3 billion, serves more than 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students at sites throughout its six county service region in southeast Florida. FAU's world-class teaching and research faculty serves students through 10 colleges: the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, the College of Business, the College for Design and Social Inquiry, the College of Education, the College of Engineering and Computer Science, the Graduate College, the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing and the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science. FAU is ranked as a High Research Activity institution by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The University is placing special focus on the rapid development of critical areas that form the basis of its strategic plan: Healthy aging, biotech, coastal and marine issues, neuroscience, regenerative medicine, informatics, lifespan and the environment. These areas provide opportunities for faculty and students to build upon FAU's existing strengths in research and scholarship. For more information, visit www.fau.edu .

About Susan G. Komen of South Florida:

Susan G. Komen is the world's largest breast cancer organization, funding more breast cancer research than any other nonprofit while providing real-time help to those facing the disease. The South Florida Affiliate has invested $11.6 million since its inception to support local programs that provide screenings, treatment assistance, emergency financial aid, medical supplies and living expenses for underserved individuals in Palm Beach, Martin and St. Lucie counties.

About Modernizing Medicine:

Modernizing Medicine® and its affiliated companies are transforming how healthcare information is created, consumed and utilized in order to increase efficiency and improve outcomes. Our specialty-specific, data-driven and cloud-based electronic health records (EHR) and practice management (PM) systems, plus revenue cycle management (RCM) services, were built by a team including specialty physicians and practice management professionals. Headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida, and known for its progressive growth as a medical technology company, Modernizing Medicine was named on the 2016 Inc. 5000 as one of America's fastest-growing private companies. Other accolades include being named one of the Fastest Growing Companies in North America in the Deloitte 2015 Technology Fast 500™, one of the Best Places to Work in Healthcare by Modern Healthcare, plus Business of the Year and the Best Place to Work by the South Florida Business Journal.