The Hayes Family Foundation

The Hayes Family Foundation is a community-rooted, health-equity nonprofit dedicated to helping men—especially African American men—understand, prevent, detect, and navigate prostate cancer. We translate medical research into plain language, bring screening conversations into trusted community spaces, and stand beside families through diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship.

We believe health knowledge should feel local, personal, and doable. Our programs meet men where they already are—barbershops, churches, union halls, veterans’ posts, and rec centers—so early detection becomes the norm, not the exception.

Prostate cancer hits Black men harder than any other group in the U.S.—and not because of any single cause. A mix of biology, delayed access to screening, barriers to high-quality treatment, and broader social determinants all play a role. Today:

• Black men have about a 67% higher incidence of prostate cancer than White men and are more than twice as likely to die from it. 
• Overall, prostate cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death in American men; about 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed, and about 1 in 44 will die from it. 
• Detection stage matters: when found early (localized or regional), 5-year survival is ~100%; if it has spread (distant stage), 5-year survival drops to ~37%. 
• Current national data confirm persistently higher incidence and mortality rates for Black men (e.g., ~1.67× higher incidence, ~2.06× higher mortality in comparative modeling and surveillance studies). 

These aren’t just numbers—they’re a call to action. When information, screening, and timely treatment are accessible, outcomes improve dramatically.

• “Know Your Number” PSA sessions: brief, culturally-competent talks on PSA testing and what results mean.
• Barbershop & church health days with on-site clinicians for informed-decision counseling about screening.
• Digital explainers (videos, texts, WhatsApp) to prepare men for doctor conversations.

• Screening navigation: help with finding primary care/urology, verifying insurance, and scheduling.
• Diagnosis-to-decision coaching: unbiased walk-through of options (active surveillance, surgery, radiation, systemic therapies) plus side-effect management resources.
• Family support: plain-language guides for spouses/partners and referrals to mental health, sexual health, pelvic PT, and nutrition.

• Collaborations with hospitals, public health agencies, and employers to close screening gaps and reduce time-to-treatment for Black men.
• Community-level dashboards (de-identified) to track screening uptake, stage at diagnosis, and treatment completion.

• Champion evidence-based screening conversations at earlier ages for high-risk men and promote equitable access to advanced diagnostics and treatments.

We do not replace medical care—our role is to empower men to make informed choices with their clinicians. We align our education with leading guidelines:

• American Cancer Society (ACS):
   
  • Discuss screening at age 45 for men at high risk (including African American men and those with a first-degree relative diagnosed before 65).
  • Consider age 40 if there are multiple first-degree relatives with early prostate cancer. 
• U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF):
   
  • For men 55–69, screening is an individual decision after discussing benefits and harms.
  • Recommend against routine PSA screening ≥70. We explain why—and when exceptions may be discussed. 
• AUA/SUO (Urology) & NCCN-informed resources:
   
  • Offer baseline PSA as early as 45–50, and begin at 40–45 for men at increased risk (Black ancestry, certain gene mutations, strong family history). 

We also emphasize stage-at-diagnosis: catching prostate cancer before it spreads is the single strongest predictor of survival. 

• Screening readiness: % of participants who report discussing PSA with a clinician within 3 months.
• Screening uptake: # of men obtaining a PSA/DRE after our sessions.
• Time to specialty care: days from abnormal PSA to urology visit.
• Stage shift: proportion of localized/regional vs. distant diagnoses among engaged participants over time.
• Satisfaction & literacy: validated health-literacy and decisional-confidence scores pre/post.

• Trust first: led by community voices; we co-design programs with barbers, faith leaders, and local advocates.
• Science-forward: we teach informed decision-making—not one-size-fits-all screening.
• Dignity & privacy: no data is shared without consent; navigation is confidential and judgment-free.
• Family matters: we include partners and loved ones because prostate cancer touches the whole household.

The Foundation collaborates with clinicians, survivors, researchers, barbershop owners, and faith leaders across Maryland and beyond. We welcome partnerships with hospitals, employers, fraternities, veterans’ groups, and civic orgs to bring lifesaving education to more men.

• Host a barbershop or church health talk.
• Sponsor a neighborhood “Know Your Number” event.
• Volunteer as a navigator or community ambassador.
• Donate to expand screenings, rides, and follow-up support.

• Risk: 67% higher incidence vs. White men; >2× mortality. 
• When to talk screening: Age 45 if high risk (ACS); 40–45 if increased risk per urology/NCCN-aligned guidance. 
• Why early matters: Localized/regional 5-year survival ~100%; distant ~37%. 
• Current burden: Prostate cancer remains the #2 cause of cancer death in U.S. men; about 1 in 8 will be diagnosed. 

• American Cancer Society (ACS) — Cancer Statistics for African American & Black People, 2025 and press materials. 
• SEER (NCI) — Prostate Cancer Stat Facts (incidence, survival by stage). 
• ACS — Screening recommendations for prostate cancer. 
• USPSTF — Prostate cancer screening statement. 
• AUA/SUO — Early Detection Guideline (2023). 
• NCCN-aligned patient resources (ZERO Cancer) — age-risk charts.