When National Breast Cancer Awareness Month rolls around in October, Sherry Robinson, writer for the St. Petersburg Times, rolls her eyes and wonders whether much of the money spent on all the items out there hyped to support the cause really goes to fight the disease. Here are some of the interesting items she discovered that are available for purchase:
This October, Hershey’s Kisses, Hershey’s Nuggets, Hershey’s Syrup, York Peppermint Patties and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Miniatures will feature pink packaging, and Hershey will donate $300,000 to the Young Survival Coalition (YSC), a non-profit network of breast cancer survivors and supporters who focus on concerns and issues unique to young women and breast cancer.
BMW is partnering with the Susan G. Komen Foundation to sell a collection of items with 80 percent of the gross profits from the sale going to Komen for the Cure. The products, available online or at local BMW dealers, include a charm key fob ($12), a gym bag ($26) and a ladies’ polo ($32). Of course, if those are a bit too pricey, they do have a lapel pin for $1 that surely fits into any wardrobe.
The Warriors in Pink (WIP) line features a signature scarf, hats, pins and T-shirts, including a long-sleeved unisex T-shirt ($25) that is not all pink so guys can wear it. And 100 percent of all net proceeds from the clothing line goes to Komen for the Cure. It’s all available at www.fordcares.com.
If your favorite guy doesn’t mind a little pink in his wardrobe, get him to try a pair of shorts from Pink Boxers Distribution Inc. The boxers come in other colors and styles for men and women and sell for $28-$32 at www.pinkboxers.org; 100 percent of the profits go to the American Breast Cancer Foundation.
Cross, the company that makes fine pens, offers the Century II Starlight pink pearlescent pen that features an inlaid star pattern and a pink ribbon on the clip. Ten percent of the sale of the $70 pen will go to the Komen Foundation, with a minimum guaranteed donation of $10,000. For more info in the limited edition pen, go to Cross online.
Here’s my slick choice: All proceeds from the sale of e.l.f. Super Glossy Lip Shine in “Pink Kiss” will benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation in October. Get this and other $1 makeup at eyeslipsface.com.
Perhaps the most useful pink item Sherry lists is the Pink Ribbon Survival edition of the Shemergency Survival Kit from Ms&Mrs. It has everything you could need in a bag about the size of a small cosmetics bag. Among the 24 items you’ll find inside are a folding hair brush with mirror, hair spray, hand lotion, nail polish remover, mending kit, double-sided tape, lint remover, shoe shine wipes, stain remover, breath freshener and deodorant wipes. It costs $20 with 10 percent going to breast cancer research.
Finally, she mentions the HMDX Speaker-on-the-Go portable speaker case that works with MP3 players and iPod. She sees it as a cool way to carry along your iPod while you are on the run. They cost $9.99 and are available at Linens-n-Things. A dollar from each purchase goes to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
Let’s purchase pink!
Look out. I may be wearing the Pink Kiss lip gloss and I can be a kissin’ fool.
