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Community Corner

Shop Pink in Foxborough to Benefit Breast Cancer Awareness

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which means a variety of pink products will be hitting the shelves. But, do your pink purchases always go towards the cause?

A wave of pink is flooding stores everywhere, as retailers participate in Breast Cancer Awareness Month. For the savvy shopper, it's an opportunity to donate to a good cause while snagging unique, pink-hued items.

Here's a few stores in Foxborough selling pink products this month:

  • Bar Louie is creating three signature cocktails to raise awareness for breast cancer. Try a Tickled Pink Martini, a Diva Martini or one of Louie’s Cosmos, and on Oct. 18th Bar Louie will be donating 25 percent of all food sales to Breast Cancer Research.
  • Brigham and Women’s/Mass General Health Care Center at Patriot Place is teaming up with the The New England Patriots and Patriot Place for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. A display of official pink football equipment will be on display within the lobby of The Brigham and Women’s/Mass General Health Care Center during the month of October to build awareness. Schedule your mammogram today.
  • Charming Carlie is where you can support Breast Cancer Awareness by picking up a Pink Ribbon Bracelet in three different styles.
  • Davio's is where you can stop in for one (or two) of Davio’s featured "Ultimate Pink Drink" Cosmos in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Proceeds from the sales of these Cosmopolitans will benefit the BreastCare Center at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.
  • Eastern Mountain Sports is where you can show your support in style by purchasing a Pink Ribbon North Face Fleece at Eastern Mountain Sports.
  • Green Tangerine will donate $10 to Breast Cancer Research for every facial booked in the month of October. Book today and receive a complimentary pink ribbon Hydro-Dynamic Ultimate Moisturizer by Murad.
  • Godiva is where you can find freshly made pink treats – Includes freshly made dipped strawberries, truffles and truffle pops Create your own pink assortment – Strawberry Crème Tarte, Birthday Cake, Strawberry, and freshly made milk chocolate truffles.
  • Old Navy is where you can buy a Susan G. Komen, "I Promise" Tee available for both men and women, and 5 percent of the sale will go towards the Susan G. Komen Foundation. You can also make in store donations to breast cancer research throughout the month of October.
  • Olympia Sports is featuring their special edition Pink Ribbon Tees, available now.
  • Patriots ProShop is where you can show your support for Breast Cancer Awareness with pink ribbon Patriots gear and accessories.
  • Segway Experience at Patriot Place will be offering 20 percent discount of its tour experiences to women the month of October in honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

However, before you plunk down your green for some pink, the nonprofits behind Breast Cancer Awareness Month want you to check the label.

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Jenna Glazer, director of development for Young Survival Coalition (YSC), a global organization dedicated to helping young women who are diagnosed with breast cancer, said that buyers should be on the lookout for a label or tag that tells where the money from the purchase goes.

"If you walk into Bed Bath & Beyond and see something with a pink ribbon and no information about where the money is going, chances are it doesn't benefit the cause," she said.

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Glazer said the best way for consumers to ensure that pink products are legit is to visit the non-profit's website for a list of its partners. YSC, which is based in New York City, lists Oakley, Nutra Nail, Liv/giant bikes, Ford and Urban Outfitters as some of its partners.

The amount of money donated to the nonprofit is also key, Glazer said. With YSC's partnership with Oakley, for instance, $20 from each pair of sunglasses goes right to the nonprofit, which offers resources, connections and outreach to young women with breast cancer. 

And for a group like YSC, which is on the smaller end of the spectrum of breast cancer awareness groups such as Susan G. Komen For the Cure, the check it receives is just part of the benefit. Each time YSC partners with a company, Glazer said, "It raises the profile of nonprofit and gets the word out to the people who need us."

Here are a few pink products available online that breast cancer nonprofits are putting their names behind:

  • The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) has partnered with Barnes & Noble, which is offering a pink leather Nook cover with a stitched ribbon for about $35, with $5 going to the foundation.
  • Susan G. Komen for the Cure sells its own official merchandise on its website. It has pink leather business card holders for $15 each, as well as candles, coasters, neckties and car accessories.
  • Hard Rock will celebrate its thirteenth season of Pinktober with a variety of merchandise, including a pink honeycomb robe for $80. 75 percent of the profits from each item sold goes to the Caron Keating Foundation.

Some retailers don't enter contracts with nonprofits but still donate a portion of their proceeds. Team Cheer, a website that offers gear for cheerleaders, is donating 5 percent of its pink profits to BCRF. From socks to bows to briefs, the company's Cheer for a Cure collection includes products from $5 to about $25. You won't see it advertised on the BCRF website, but according to foundation staff, Team Cheer has made donations for the past two years.

If you think a pink product is suspicious or you are wondering about the relationship between the company and the cause, give the non-profit a call. Representatives are usually happy to verify whether a company is really giving.

"I've actually gotten Google alerts and seen people say they are partnering with us and they aren't," Glazer said, adding that she follows up on those alerts and asks for a check from the retailer that made the claim. Sometimes, she said, retailers were unaware that they needed a contract with YSC and will send along the check happily.

But in some cases, she said, "I never hear back from them."

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