Community Corner
Cities and Citizens go Pink for Breast Cancer
Here are some of the most creative ways that businesses, cities and their residents celebrate the cause.
Think pink? It might be because it’s that time of year. Pink chocolate. Pink bagels. Pink hair weaves. Pink sheets. Pink stilettos. And, of course, a boatload of pink ribbons.
Many businesses are in on the fight for the cure. Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Tampa, Fla., is offering a “Get into Bed PINKTOBER.” Sign up before Oct. 22 for a “pink sheet” room complete with a pink robe.
New York restaurant owners are thinking pink and serving it up, too. “Be an epiCUREan” is a campaign to help raise money. Participating restaurants will identify a “pink” item on their menus and whenever that item is ordered, the breast cancer piggy bank gets money (through October). Washington, D.C. is having a similar dining program called Take a Bite out of Breast Cancer.
NASCAR wasn’t going to take a backseat to joining the cause. NASCAR painted a pace car pink and put a pink ribbon on it. They vowed to donate money for every lap the pace car had to take on the track. In September, one of the races was rained out and the laps of the pace car piled up.
“We are thrilled when a company decides to paint its building pink or when they allow women to take time off work for a mammogram or encourage them to get more information about breast cancer,” said Terry Music, chief mission delivery officer for the American Cancer Society.
“I want women to know the facts so we can end this once and for all,” she said. Music lost her mother to breast cancer and said early detection may have saved her.
Hanes® has been a long-time partner with the National Breast Cancer Foundation and added a comfort package on Facebook this year. It’s a customizable kit including a T-shirt meant to be given as a gift. Hanes will give a portion of profits to the cause.
“Comfort is more than just physical; it’s emotional, too,” said Sidney Falken, chief branding officer of Hanes. “We are proud to be partners with NBCF (National Breast Cancer Foundation) to help raise awareness of breast cancer and support a cause the Hanes consumer cares so deeply about.”
Land O’Lakes Purina Feed out of Pennsylvania put together 50 events aimed at educating women living in rural areas about breast cancer. They kicked off their Pink 50 with a Dash for Hope in Grantville, Pa., at the Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course.
Certain lines of animal food packages were turned pink for the season. “We wanted to put emphasis on women taking care of themselves,” said Anita Hood, equine specialist with the company.
Maryland-based energy company, Sharp Energy, Inc., introduced a pink delivery truck. But that’s not all they deliver: Their customers also get information on breast cancer.
Estée Lauder continues to give support to the cause. “Together we are stronger. Together we can do more. Together we can find a cure,” Evelyn Lauder has said.
Macy’s and Panera Bread (some locations including Pittsburgh) also got in on the pink-ribbon action. Macy’s has chocolates and stuffed animals, and Panera is baking pink ribbon bagels during October, both to benefit breast cancer awareness.
Two thousand women’s basketball teams participate in the Pink Zone, including Penn State, whose team has raised more than $300,000 for the cause. The teams wear pink, encourage fans to wear pink and collect money.
“The donation from Pink Zone (Penn State) enables our one-of-a-kind pink van, with the Lady Lion basketball logo as the sponsor, to travel around Pennsylvania as we work in every way possible to find a cure for breast cancer now so our daughters won’t have to,” said Pat Halprin-Murphy, president and founder of the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition.
Crozer-Keystone Health System turns on pink lights in all of their facilities and encourages all employees to wear pink on Oct. 3, in addition to a month full of breast cancer awareness events.
