Businesses Celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness Month By Going Pink

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.

H20 Seafood Grill in Smithtown is one of the local restaurants who will be offering a Think Pink menu throughout October.

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.

The New York skyline is lit up with more than 40 buildings as part of the City in Pink. On Sept. 20, Estée Lauder spokeswoman Elizabeth Hurley flipped the switch and turned the Empire State Building pink.

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 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.

Before you hit an ATM for a purchase, Gold Coast Bank will be donating 100 percent of its ATM withdrawal and query transaction fees to Long Island's Beauty for a Cure, an organization dedicated to supporting Long Island not-for-profit breast cancer charities. It has branches in Huntington, Islandia and Setauket.

Horifudo Tattoo Studio in Smithtown and Good Times Tattoo Studio in East Islip have joined together to create Tattoo artists will ink customers with pink ribbons for free starting Oct. 1 at noon in exchange for a donation for what the tattoo would normally cost to Breast Cancer Help, Inc. A tattoo marathon will be held Oct. 8 from noon to 10 p.m. at Good Times Tattoo Studio.

Tattoos not your think? in Smithtown will offer pink feather extensions to show your support. All pink feathers are $20.00 and $5.00 from each pink feather purchased will be donated to breast cancer.

Skip the feathers and get your hair cut at The Cutting Edge Hair Design in Commack on Oct. 2 at 1 p.m.  The company is raising funds to participate in Jones Beach Strides Against Breast Cancer walk. Legends Hair Design in Stony Brook is also hosting Cut For a Cure on Oct. 9 at 11 a.m to benefit cancer patients at Stony Brook University Hospital.