Grand Prize - Southwest Medical Center, Liberal, Kansas

The Think Pink committee at Southwest Medical Center chose The Hunt For A Pink October as its 2010 theme. It challenged hospital departments, medical office buildings, and local businesses in Liberal, Kansas, to decorate and help spread breast cancer awareness. Breast cancer survivors judged the participants on educational material, creativity, and use of pink. Southwest Medical then sponsored a scavenger hunt around town to the places that had decorated for the Think Pink challenge. Positive Promotions products, including planners, lapel pins, and pens, were used as giveaways and door prizes. The center also held a seminar in which an OB/GYN discussed women’s health and a breast cancer survivor shared her story. The most elaborate project of the Think Pink committee was a video called Your Life In Three Words. In it, people across Liberal conveyed messages about breast cancer, three words at a time. They held up signs instead of speaking. A portion of the video was shown on Good Morning America.

Second Prize - Wayne Memorial Hospital, Jesup, Georgia

Wayne Memorial Hospital kicked off its month of activities with a health fair for the residents of Jesup, Georgia. A breast cancer awareness booth at the fair featured gifts from Positive Promotions. Every Tuesday during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, hospital staff and breast cancer survivors dressed in pink, handed out treats, and talked to women about the importance of breast exams and mammograms. On the last Tuesday, staff dressed in Halloween costumes to Scare Away Breast Cancer. The hospital scheduled mammograms until 8:00 pm three nights a week to make it more convenient for working women. To raise money for breast cancer research, Wayne Memorial set up the Tree Of Hope. People bought ribbons to hang on the tree in honor of someone who has fought breast cancer. The Baking For A Cure bake sale also raised funds. Members of every department in the hospital put on pink gloves and participated in a Dancing For A Cure video. The video was played in the lobby, posted on the Internet, and aired on local TV stations.

Third Prize - Madison County Breast Cancer Support Group Richmond, Kentucky

The Madison County Breast Cancer Support Group is an important asset to Richmond, Kentucky. Members visit breast cancer patients in the hospital or at home. In 2010, the organization took part in a rally in front of city hall proclaiming October as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The group hosted a Relay For Life; the race and silent auction together raised $122,000. The group also sponsored a Women’s Wellness Fun Day. It featured speakers, a skit, a fashion show, informational booths, and door prizes. Everyone received Positive Promotions pens, key rings, and kits. Members of the support group walked in a Race For The Cure in Lexington.

Honorable Mention - Effingham Hospital, Springfield, Georgia

Throughout October, pamphlets and displays educated employees at Effingham Hospital. Employees also learned from breast-cancer-themed word searches and crossword puzzles. Key rings, coolers, and lunch bags from Positive Promotions were given to people who participated. Effingham held an afternoon reception in which employees received breast exam cards, had the opportunity to ask questions about mammograms, and entered drawings for door prizes.

Honorable Mention - Cuyuna Regional Medical Center, Crosby, Minnesota

Cuyuna Regional Medical Center (CRMC) in Crosby partnered with Riverwood Healthcare Center in nearby Aitkin, Minnesota, to create the This Town music video. The video tells the importance of breast cancer screenings and shows employees of both facilities wearing pink scrubs. The video was unveiled at a local movie theater, then made its way to YouTube where it has been viewed tens of thousands of times. CRMC also hosted a Girls Night Out, which included a style show, a wine tasting, and goodie bags of Positive Promotions items, such as water bottles and bracelets.

Thoughtful Combination

Your staff members can assist in providing comfort to patients having breast cancer surgery. Begin by ordering “Making A Difference One Woman At A Time” Reversible Tote Bags and Comb & Mirror Compacts. Consult with a breast cancer support group to see what else would be nice to include in the bag with the compacts, then ask your staff to donate those items. Also gather teddy bears and small pillows. Supply a hospital or surgery center with your finished “care packages.”

Score Big

October and football go hand in hand. Chances are there is a football team that plays in your area, whether it be professional, college, or high school. Organize “Tailgating For TaTas.” Get permission to set up in the parking lot before one of the games. Draw people over to your booth by having a prize wheel. On the wheel, picture items of various value, such as Ladies’ Vintage Football Jerseys. Have information on breast cancer screenings ready. Sell hotdogs and baked chips to offset the cost of the prizes. Also offer drinks in Pearlized Pink Water Bottles that have been imprinted with the slogan “Tailgating For TaTas.”

Hats Off To Survivors

Rally your community members by asking them to “put a cap on breast cancer.” Create flyers and posters announcing National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Feature photographs of breast cancer survivors from your organization/ facility wearing “Hope, Love, Cure” Caps. Hold sales of the caps to raise money for a breast cancer related group or program. When someone purchases a cap, give that person a few Pink Ribbon Embroidered Appliques to pass on and expand the reach of your campaign.

Outstanding Displays

Let creativity shine while raising awareness by organizing a door decorating contest for staff members. Encourage contestants to come up with an interesting breast cancer-related theme for each door. Require an educational component. Allow employees whose work areas don’t have doors to decorate their desks instead. Assemble a panel of judges to pick winners. Award a “Live, Love, Believe In The Cure” Briefcase Messenger Bag to first place. Present second and third place with “Live, Love, Believe In The Cure” Drawstring Backpacks.

Wearing Your Support

Apparel featuring pink ribbons and slogans about breast cancer show commitment to a cause. And each time something is worn, much-needed attention is brought to the subject. Recruit volunteers to sell Message Ribbon Women’s Cut T-Shirts and “Real Men Wear Pink” Navy T-Shirts. Start within your own company, facility, or school. Then have your volunteers take the clothing out into the community, to well-attended events.

Fairy Godmother

Perhaps you are looking for a special NBCAM project that your organization can focus on. Consider setting up a fund for people in your community who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. Specify that the money goes toward granting a wish of each person chosen. During October, hold several fundraisers. Thank donors with “Get Your Pink On!” Fabric Zip Purses With Key Rings or Butterfly Mini Totes. Also, collect applications from breast cancer patients that state what their wishes are. At the end of the month, hold a ceremony in which you announce the recipients of the money.

Books And Breast Cancer

Sometimes patients undergoing breast cancer treatment must travel long distances for appointments. Ease this burden by supplying prepaid gas cards; raise the funds for the gas cards through a used book sale. If you have a women’s organization in your church, work with its members on this project. Spread the word that you need donations of books. Use Breast Cancer Awareness Angel Lapel Pins to thank everyone who donates a minimum number of books. Have the books for sale after your worship services during October. Whenever someone buys three or more books, hand out “Strength, Hope, Faith, Courage” Deluxe Laminated Bookmarks. Both the bookmarks and the lapel pin presentation cards feature breast cancer screening guidelines on the back, which will add an educational aspect to your fundraiser.

Putting It In Writing

Provide everyone in your congregation with a place to recognize friends and family who have been affected by breast cancer. Start with a roll of pink bulletin board paper. Then sketch out a large ribbon and cut it out. Hang this paper ribbon in your church’s fellowship hall and invite people to write the names of their loved ones. Have “Live, Love, Believe In The Cure” Pink Silicone Bracelets available near the display so those who write a name can take one to wear and show their support out in the community. Then help all the women of your church better their health by giving each one a Women’s Monthly Planner & Pen Set to keep track of their appointments for breast exams, mammograms, and other medical tests.

In The Pink

Ask the members of your church to wear pink on Sundays during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. There are five Sundays in October this year. Supply a sheet of paper from “Hope, Love, Cure” Sticky Pads to each person who wants to participate. Whenever someone arrives in pink attire, give an Embroidered Pink Ribbon to place on his or her paper. On the last Sunday of the month, have all your participants turn in their sheets. Award a “Strength, Hope, Faith, Courage” Recycled Tote Bag to any who has earned all five pink ribbons.

Presented the American Cancer Society

Positive Promotions presented the American Cancer Society with a $15,000 check to support the society’s research and educational efforts and its programs and services for breast cancer patients and their families. From left: Stephanie Felner, Positive Promotions Senior Marketing Manager; Sylvia Diaz, American Cancer Society Eastern Division, Regional Vice President; Nelson Taxel, Positive Promotions President and CEO; Mary Hunt, Positive Promotions Director of Merchandising.

Heavyweight Celebration

Generate enthusiasm with a month-long theme. Ask everyone to “Join In The Fight Against Breast Cancer.” Utilize boxing images and phrases. The first of October, announce “Let’s get ready to rumble!” Call each week a “round” (week one is round one, etc.). Create a bulletin board display of information titled “Knockout Cancer.” Use “Fight Like A Girl” Miniature Boxing Glove Key Chains and “Fight Like A Girl” Wide Silicone Bracelets as rewards for participation in events.

Hope Blooms

Sponsor an event that will have an impact this fall and next spring. During NBCAM, hold a ceremony in which participants plant pink tulip bulbs. Hand out Pink Ribbon Flower Lapel Pins to everyone there. In conjunction with the ceremony, organize a flower and plant sale to raise money for a breast cancer support group. In April, the tulips should sprout. As they blossom, distribute our Forget-Me-Not Breast Care Reminder Seed Packets which feature screening recommendations. The seed packets and pink tulips will remind people of the efforts to end breast cancer.

Focus On Food

Good nutrition is one contributing factor in lowering the risk of breast cancer. So hold a lunch ‘n’ learn event about healthy eating. Title this activity “Pack A Pink Powerful Lunch.” During the presentation, give suggestions of foods that are both nutritional powerhouses and easy to bring in a lunch bag. Also provide new ways of preparing healthy foods that have been lunchbox staples for a long time, such as apples. Present each guest with a “Hope, Love, Cure” Pink Verve Vertical Lunch Bag containing a “What Everyone Should Know About Breast Cancer” Pocket Pal.

Drawing A Crowd

Increase involvement in NBCAM activities by holding multiple raffles throughout October. Type up a list of ways that people can earn raffle tickets. These could include wearing pink for the day, donating a dollar to the cause, doing a breast self-exam, walking 10,000 steps in a day, sending a card to someone with breast cancer, or eating a pink food. Tailor the list to your organization’s situation. Order the Super Deluxe Awareness Raffle Pack for its tickets and prizes. When you give out a ticket for accomplishing something on the list, also give the recipient “Mammograms: A Few Mo‘mints’ For A Lifetime” Mints.

Get Your Pink On

Choose a day to “pink” out your facility (or office or school). Publicize the date well in advance and invite everyone to wear pink clothes. Decorate with as much pink as you can. Also, serve pink snacks. Present “Get Your Pink On!” Sticky Pads or “Get Your Pink On!” Comfort Grip Pens to all who participate in the pinkness. If anyone goes the extra mile and colors his or her hair pink, award a “Get Your Pink On!” T-Shirt.