February 4, 2010
On April 11, 2010, Pink Ribbons Project is hosting our annual “Pink Pairs” event, but with a twist. Pink on the Green will be a magical and exciting picnic-style evening honoring 6 breast cancer survivors and their spouses. For all the nitty-gritty details of the event, click here.
Planning an event like this requires MANY steps that go un-noticed. First comes the concept, then come the chairs, then comes the logo, etc. This week? Underwriting letters.
An underwriter letter is a letter to a Pink Ribbons Project supporter asking them to contribute to a certain event. In this circumstance, we are asking for donors to purchase tables for Pink on the Green.
Pink Ribbons Project Headquarters has been a zoo lately creating, printing and mailing these letters. Rozlind, Special Events Coordinator, knows these letters all too well. “I know these letters like the back of my hand, and they are completely organized. The rest of my life? Not so much.”
Once these letters are printed (around 1200 of them), they are put into folders and alphabetized.
Next, honorees, chairpersons, and Pink Ribbons Project board members come to Pink Headquarters to write personalized notes on these letters encouraging donors to participate in this event.
Volunteers assist the staff in addressing the envelopes. When we’re really lucky, they bring donuts.
Eventually, these letters get mailed out, and we anxiously await the return envelopes that are hopefully filled with checks. Next month- the invitations! After that? The event itself!
January 21, 2010
Once again, Pink Ribbons Project had the honor of being a “Run for a Reason” Charity for the Houston Chevron Marathon. Runners have raised almost $20,000 for Pink Ribbons Project this year!
Not only did our runners raise an extraordinary amount of money, but they ran an incredible amount of miles! Pink Ribbons Project was on hand to cheer them on at our usual “hoopla station” at Niko Niko’s- right at Mile 8.
Congratulations again to our amazing runners–you are all truly an inspiration! To donate to Pink Ribbons Project’s Houston Marathon, click here.
December 17, 2009
Through our “Pink Power” program, Pink Ribbons Project made a huge impact in the Greater Houston community in 2009. We allocated almost $310,000 to support breast cancer awareness, treatment and education in the community:
(take a deep breath, it’s a long list!)
- $145,000 to The Rose for a new ultrasound machine that will help reduce the current six-week wait time for ultrasounds.
- $99,000 for the third year to collaborate with Harris County Hospital District for the Pink Ribbons project Saturday Mammography Program. In addition to the Quentin Mease Clinic (which we have supported for the past several years), Pink Ribbons Project is also partnering with HCHD for the Saturday mammography clinic at People’s Clinic and Aldine Health Center.
- $50,000 for the continued operation of the UTMB Mobile Mammography van, which Pink Ribbons Project initially sponsored after its services were halted post-Hurricane Ike in 2008.
- $72,220 to the Rose Diagnostic Center to assist in the switch from analog to digital mammography.
- $33,411 to Network of Strength for work-ups for women who are trying to qualify for the “A Day for You” program (which provides clinical exams and health education), but cannot because of abnormal clinical exam. Under the existing program, these women do not qualify for assistance because of the abnormalities and are directly referred to The Rose for diagnostics. “Diagnostic Services for Women,” for which the center is asking for help, will provide free diagnostic services to women whose doctors recommend diagnostics, not a mammogram. The doctors will work in collaboration with The Rose.
- $21,720 to MD Anderson Cancer Center to continue providing patient handbooks to new breast cancer patients.
- $20,000 to Dia de la Mujer, a new project in Houston, to provide for its breast health education and wellness program geared toward Latina women. This program is celebrated in a health fiesta environment. The funding would also provide money for the training expenses for Promontoras as community advocates and navigators.
- $5,500 to sponsor the Fourth Annual Breast Health Summit that took place October 29 and 30. This is a Corporate Sponsorship level, and $1,000 of these monies will go toward conference scholarships or other conference expenses.
- $5,000 to Pink Pilates, Inc. for five breast cancer survivors to participate in 24 Pilates classes. The funds will also cover nutritional counseling, a support group, monitoring and evaluation and project management.
- $2,550 to Center for Creative Resources for its proposed pilot project, Pink Alive– KIDS! which will provide supportive services for children and families of breast cancer survivors through expressive-arts workshops. The workshops would be monthly beginning this fall and would support 12 children.
- $10,000 toward the 90 mammograms donated to The Rose. The funds were raised as a result of our Community Partnership with KPFT during its fall fund-raising drive.
- $6,000 for Lisa Hamilton’s production of Bald in the Land of Big Hair, to be used for expenses during her in-town show and for her touring program.
December 9, 2009
Today is a big day in the Pink Ribbons Project office because starting in January, we will have a new head honcho (in technical terms, a new Executive Director).
But “new” doesn’t begin to describe Loubel Cruz–she’s been a part of the Pink Ribbons Project family for about 8 and a half years. After graduating from Notre Dame, Loubel began a job as an education reporter for the Houston Chronicle. To make some extra money, she started teaching ice skating at the Galleria. There, a little girl named Marika Rafte was in one of her classes, and she was introduced to her mother Susan and her aunt Jane. (For a refresher on the Pink Ribbons Project’s two sister story, click here: http://www.pinkribbons.org/twosistersstory/)
After jumping on board as Education Manager, Loubel saw the organization grow from Jane’s basement to the current Pink Ribbons Project beautiful space to call home. She helped the budget grow from around $200,000 a year to more than $1 million a year. She has worn many hats at the office including assisting and leading fundraising and outreach programs, office management, and marketing.
Other hats include bringing her staff cookies from Tiny Boxwoods, making everyone laugh uproariously, treating them to starbucks and chinese food, and allowing them to play in the snow for a few minutes.
Never fear- our current “jefe” (as we like to call her) will be our brand new Advisory Director. Which we think is pretty awesome. You may or may not know that she is a pretty avid twitter-er, so be sure to follow her! http://twitter.com/susanrafte.
So again, a huge congratulations to Pink Ribbons Project’s new fearless leader, Loubel Cruz. Want to congratulate her in person? Come celebrate with us this Saturday at The Brown Goes Pink: An Arts and Dance Celebration presented by Houston’s next generation at Kinkaid High School. For more information, click here.
December 2, 2009
Pink Ribbons Project will be represented at the upcoming 2009 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS), which is presented by the CTRC, AACR, and the Baylor College of Medicine. “The driving force behind this collaboration is the shared mission of the organizations to advance progress against breast cancer. By combining their respective strengths, the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium encompasses the full spectrum of breast cancer research and facilitates the rapid transition of new knowledge into improved care for breast cancer patients.”
For more information, visit http://www.sabcs.org/.
One of the concentrations of the Summit is Inflammatory Breast Cancer, otherwise known as “IBC”. IBC is the most aggressive form of breast cancer and causes the breasts to appear red and inflamed. It particularly affects younger women, and is especially deadly.
We are HUGE fans of this wonderful video from Matthew Steinhart on this serious issue. To check it out, click here: The IBC Project: First Cut. It contains graphic images, so viewer discretion is advised.
November 30, 2009
High School students from the Houston area will present an arts and dance celebration benefiting Pink Ribbons Project, Houston’s arts-based breast cancer organization, on December 12, at 6:00 p.m. at The Kinkaid School’s Brown Auditorium. The event will feature performances by Episcopal High School, Houston Ballet II, King’s Dancing Center, The Kinkaid School, Lamar High School, Page Parks Modeling Agency, Several Dancers Core, St. John’s School and Travis High School.
The Brown Goes Pink” event was envisioned by three sophomores at the Kinkaid School- Claire Valera, Sam Rogers, and Jarod Becker: “Even at our age, all three of us have been touched by breast cancer. We wanted to spread awareness of the cause to our peers throughout the Houston community. So, on December 12, some of the city’s best young artists will take the stage for the inaugural performance of The Brown Goes Pink – an arts and dance celebration created and presented by Houston’s next generation”.
“The Brown Goes Pink” is the students’ take-off on the “Pink at the Brown” gala, which Pink Ribbons Project presented earlier this year at the Wortham Center’s Brown Theater. That historic event brought every member of the Theater District together to perform on one stage for a cause for the first time ever. In a similar fashion, “The Brown Goes Pink” will take place at the Brown Auditorium at The Kinkaid School and will feature another unique collaboration.
Reserved advance tickets are $20 adult/ $15 students and are available by calling 713.524.PINK (7465), or by e-mail to Rozlind@pinkribbons.org. Day-of tickets will be available at the Brown Auditorium box office: $25 adult/ $20 student.
For more information, visit http://www.pinkribbons.org/en/cev/79.
November 19, 2009
At Pink Ribbons Project, we were extremely disappointed and discouraged by the recent announcement of the revised screening guideline recommendations set forth by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). The revised guidelines represent an enormous setback in women’s healthcare. The suggested changes will cause immeasurable negative consequences, the most tragic being loss of life. Unfortunately the revisions were strongly based on statistics without adequately taking into account the intrinsic value of human life.
Our organization’s mission is stalwartly dedicated to raising awareness and educating about breast health and breast cancer. Along with many other respected cancer organizations and health care providers, we strongly promote the fact that early detection saves lives; and we firmly believe that earlier screening means earlier detection of breast cancer, which in turn can result in less invasive treatment. We encourage and empower women of all ages to be vigilant with consistent and diligent breast healthcare. The recent release of this study and the subsequent coverage in the news has already caused confusion and will undermine much of the good work that has been done to promote good breast healthcare practices.
The backlash response against these revised guidelines has been tremendous. And rightfully so.
Pink Ribbons Project stands in good company with M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, American Cancer Society, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, LIVESTRONG, The Rose in Houston, Harris County Hospital District, Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, American College of Radiology, all the members, both individually and collectively of the Breast Health Collaborative of Texas and many more.
We ask our supporters to stand with us to make sure that the USPSTF’s revised guidelines don’t become our reality.
Susan Rafte
Executive Director
Pink Ribbons Project, in motion against breast cancer
2449 South Blvd. Suite 100 Houston, TX 77098
PHONE: 713.524.PINK (7465) www.pinkribbons.org
Using the arts, Pink Ribbons Project saves lives and improves the quality of life for those touched by breast cancer.
November 10, 2009
Didn’t get a chance to enter the sold-out the Chevron Houston Marathon in January? Then join us for Runner’s Appreciation Day this Saturday, November 14 from 11am- 2pm at the Sports Authority, 2131 Post Oak Blvd.
30 Chevron Houston Marathon entries will be raffled. Marathon staff, trainers and charity program representatives will also be on hand to answer any event related questions you may have.
11:00 a.m. – 12:20 p.m.: Raffle ticket registration period. No raffle tickets will be distributed after 12:20 p.m.
12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.: 10 tickets will be drawn at 12:30 p.m., 1:00 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Limit one raffle ticket per person. Winners must be present to win. Upon winning, winner must sign up and pay entry fee immediately. Marathon entry fee is $120.
Already signed up for the Chevron Houston Marathon and interested in running for Pink Ribbons Project? Click here.
October 27, 2009
This Thursday and Friday (October 29-30), the Breast Health Collaborative of Texas will present the 5th Annual Breast Health Summit–a gathering aimed at improving access to care across the state.
Chaired by Pink Ribbons Project Associate Director Loubel Cruz and CanCare Director of Programs Kim Akel, the agenda for the summit is exciting, timely and jam-packed.
Special guest Thomas Moore will speak about “illness is a right of passage and spirit and soul in the treatment of cancer”, a health care reform panel will feature representatives Ellen Cohen and Garnet Coleman, and Bill Gimson, the Executive Director of CPRIT (Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas) will present.
For the complete agenda and to register, click here:
October 19, 2009
This blog centers around the goings-on at Pink Headquarters, which is breast cancer related 99% of the time, but we wanted to interrupt this Breast Cancer Awareness Month to bring you an exciting announcement!
Associate Director Loubel Cruz is ENGAGED!
We couldn’t be happier for our fearless leader and her soon-to-be husband.
Congrats, Loubel!
