Gov. Jerry Brown kicked off Breast Cancer Awareness Month by urging residents to order the state’s new official pink ribbon license plates. The new plates are designed to promote a message of “Early Detection Saves Lives,” and will help fund breast cancer screenings for underserved women throughout the state.

“This year, for the first time, Californians may support the early detection of breast cancer through a specialty license plate, available at pinkplate.org,” Brown said.

Money generated from the California pink ribbon license plates will allow more women across California to get regular breast exams and mammograms, potentially saving lives. The funds will be directed to the Breast Cancer Control Account, which funds the state’s Every Woman Counts program administered by the California Department of Health Care Services. The program partners with county departments of public health and county health consortia across California to provide women with local, easy access to screenings.

“Millions of California women and their families have been affected by breast cancer, and this is an opportunity to save lives and remind Californians about the importance of early screening,” said Carla Kimball, a breast cancer survivor who credits early detection for saving her life. “These plates are not just for survivors, or even the countless number of relatives and friends of survivors. The simple act of putting a pink ribbon license plate on your vehicle will save lives.”

Kimball is one of a group of breast cancer survivors calling themselves “Survivor Sisters.” They have fought for years to make pink ribbon plates in California a reality. Governor Jerry Brown signed AB 49, sponsored by then-Assemblymember Joan Buchanan, into law in September 2014.

At least 7,500 pre-orders are needed for the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to begin producing the plates. Orders can be made at www.pinkplate.org. Plates can be pre-ordered for a driver’s own vehicle or as a gift. A portion of the purchase is tax deductible. Costs start at $50.