Businesses Thinking Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month

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.

Maryland landmarks that go pink include the capital building, City Hall in Baltimore City, Concord Point Lighthouse in Hartford County and fire stations throughout Howard County.

“Baltimore joined people around the nation in solidarity as we work together to make this a world without breast cancer,” said Baltimore City Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake.

In support of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Dressbarn has launched a month-long program aimed at encouraging more than one-quarter million women to take a ‘Pink Pledge’ to combat breast cancer.

In Severna Park and across the country, Dressbarn stores hope to obtain  261,000 ‘Pink Pledges’ from women who will commit themselves to getting a mammogram, eating healthier or taking bold steps to ward off breast cancer or catch it at an early stage. Dressbarn’s goal of 261,000 pledges represents the number of new cases of breast cancer diagnosed in 2010, according to a press release.

Take the 'Pink Pledge' at www.yourdressbarn.com/mypinkpledge, a public promise to take steps toward a healthier lifestyle. The site will also share stories of breast cancer survivors, and invite users to add their own stories of inspiration, according to a news announcement.

Users can customize their pledge by completing the prompt, “I pledge to take care of myself by […]”.  Additionally, once the ‘Pink Pledge’ is taken, there will be an option to share it with friends and followers, urging them to take it themselves and pass it along as well.

A direct link to Facebook, a tweet including the hashtag #pinkpledge and an option to email will all be provided.