Hospitals and non-profits across the country compile videos every year in hopes of raising money for local and national breast cancer organizations.  Penn State Hershey used a strong social media and online presence to promote its 2012 video submission for the PA Breast Cancer Coalition.  Each hospital department choreographed its own routine to Katy Perry’s “Part of Me” with featured guests like the Penn State Nittany Lion and patients of all ages.  Hundreds of thousands of votes were tallied and we are thrilled to announce that Penn State Hershey was awarded second place in the contest with a prize of $5,000!  The Medical Center has generously offered to donate all of that money to the PBCC.

“This may be the most creative and enthusiastic show of support the PBCC has ever seen.  It’s incredible,” said PBCC President and Founder Pat Halpin-Murphy.  “The PA Breast Cancer Coalition is truly grateful for the time, dedication and generosity of the Penn State Hershey staff.

Each day, 32 women in Pennsylvania are diagnosed with breast cancer.  Each year, more than 2,000 of those women will lose their lives to the disease.  With the help of the Penn State’s contribution, the PBCC aims to improve the quality of breast cancer education, research, programming and outreach in the state.   Thank you Penn State Hershey!

In case you didn’t get a chance to watch Penn State’s Pink Glove Dance video, you can watch it here:  Pink Glove Dance 2012
You can read more about Penn State Hershey’s Cancer Institute and the competition here:  Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute

So, what is this whole Extraordinary Give thing, anyway?  It’s a 24-hour online giving marathon hosted by the Lancaster County Community Foundation during which the PA Breast Cancer Coalition has an opportunity to raise thousands of dollars to support women and families in Pennsylvania.  Beginning at midnight, November 30, anyone in the world can log on to ExtraGive.org, search for the PBCC and give a donation of $25 or more.  During that time, the Community Foundation will choose donors for special incentives.  For example, during the “Midnight Madness” hours of 12am – 3am, the Foundation will select a donor at random and throw in a little “Extra” to whichever organization that person chose to support.  Click Here for more information on prizes or head to ExtraGive.org.
Find out why many PBCC supporters have chosen to donate:

Will YOU Give to the PBCC?

If you’re undecided, we’ve chosen the Top 5 Reasons why you should consider it:

1.  All of the money will stay right here in Pennsylvania.   $.83 of every dollar we receive goes to support our programs and services.

2.  The need is great.  32 women in Pennsylvania will be diagnosed with breast cancer TODAY and more than 12,000 will be diagnosed this year.

3.  Research.  Scientists and doctors in PA are breaking ground on possible new treatments every day, but they cannot continue their work without funding from nonprofits like the PBCC.

4.  Advocacy.  There are no questions too big or too small.  The PBCC staff works to find the answers, treatments and resources for women every day.

5.  Because we need to find a cure now.  Each one of our programs at the PBCC supports that mission. From our Friends Like Me Care Packages to our Refunds for Research program, the PBCC relies strongly on contributions from the community to continue our work.

For 20 years, we have been fortunate to have generous donors, volunteers and Grassroots Partners.  The PBCC has set an Extraordinary Give goal of $3,200 – $100 for each woman in PA diagnosed with breast cancer every day.  Help us continue our mission for the next 20 years by setting aside a little “Extra” and participating in this year’s Extraordinary Give on November 30!

#PBCCgive
ExtraGive.org
pbcc.me/Give

What donors may not realize is, while their gifts are always appreciated by the PBCC, the effect their generosity has on grant and scholarship recipients is what truly makes the difference.  In the week following this year’s conference, letters of thanks and appreciation starting pouring in to our Ephrata office.  Here are just a few of the responses we received:

The PA Breast Cancer Coalition would like to thank everyone who has provided these recipients with the experience of attending our Conference over the past several years.  We could not do what we do, without you!

Remember, together we can “find a cure for breast cancer now… so our daughters won’t have to.”

Jim expects to log over 5,000 miles for the 2012 race starting in South Bend, Indiana then off to Plymouth, Indiana, Joliet, Illinois, all on the first day. By the next day, they are due in Council Bluffs, Iowa by 8 a.m. and then off to tracks in Oklahoma, Colorado, Nebraska, Minnesota, Wisconsin and back to South Bend. By the end of that circuit we will have traveled over 3300 miles plus the miles on each of the tracks, all from Saturday to Saturday.

Jim and his transit driver Steve Barrett have several sponsors and have once again added a fundraising component to the race. For a donation of $10 or more and they will put a Pink Ribbon sticker on the car with your name or a loved one’s name so you can “ride along” on their One Lap of America!

If you would like to donate please send your donation to Jim Roberts at 14 W. Main St., Mount Joy, PA 17552. Please make any checks payable to PA Breast Cancer Coalition. And be sure to follow Jim and Steve as they travel around America over the next couple of weeks on Jim’s blog!

Team and individual batter sign ups are open, so register today! Your registration will get you signed up for a day of fun at a ballpark of your choice. Your registration fee covers a batter’s jersey, program, souvenir team photo, gift bag and an experience you won’t soon forget to make a difference in the fight against breast cancer.

There are also many great sponsorship opportunities available to meet any budget. If you want to find out more on how your business can be involved as a sponsor, check out these available opportunities.

The PBCC is also in need of volunteers to help out each day of the derby. If you want to help, please complete the online form.

We are also looking for a few good volunteers. If you and your co-workers, your children, or your neighbors would like to shag a few baseballs in the outfield, we can use your help! Volunteer registration is also available online.

Be sure to check out our July touring schedule and mark your calendars now! If you have any questions or need assistance through the registration process, call the batter’s box (ok, not really) but reach out to Kevin at Kevin@PABreastCancer.org or 800-377-8828 x109.

With such a large state to work in, we are tasked with what seems impossible with eight full-time employees. Volunteers make the mission of the PBCC achievable. In 2011, we had 302 individuals from all over PA give up their time for a greater good. Jobs included reviewing Refunds for Breast Cancer Research grant applications, presenting or moderating a workshop at our conference, staffing an information table at a health fair, speaking at a fundraiser, shagging baseballs at a Home Run Derby, assembling and customizing Friends Like Me Care Packages, and many more.

The only thing we can say (and we say it every day): thank you. Thank YOU for donating your valuable time to the mission of the PA Breast Cancer Coalition. In total, we had 1738.5 hours logged by volunteers across the state. That is OUTSTANDING! Volunteers saved the PBCC $37,134.36 in 2011! I don’t need to tell you that this is incredible!

Thanks to people like you, we are able to keep our doors open and serve the women and families of this great state! Stay tuned for opportunities to get involved at various events across Pennsylvania. If you don’t already receive our monthly e-newsletter Pink Link, sign up! And if you’re interested in volunteering, complete our interest survey and we’ll be in touch!

Here’s to 2012!

Carlisle Regional Medical Center, the Tuckey Companies, the Phillips Group, Giant, and the North Dickinson Elementary School PTO joined in support of the students’ efforts with donations. The classroom that raised the most – Denise Stasyszyn’s combined fourth- and fifth-grade class – was rewarded with a pizza party courtesy of Little Caesars. But the impressive school wide effort was recognized by Dairy Queen with an ice cream party. Thanks to Sam, Clay, Delaney, Tyler and all the students, parents, teachers and staff of North Dickinson Elementary for showing that a little change can go a long way to helping in the fight against breast cancer!

Our Grassroots Partners are an important part of the PBCC family. This year alone, our community fundraisers have contributed $370,000 and counting to the PBCC, which has enabled us to do the work that we do on behalf of Pennsylvania’s breast cancer survivors and their families. Grassroots Partners are the lifeblood of the PBCC, powering us to work hard each day to make breast cancer history.

From athletic events to fashion shows, motorcycle rides to horse rides, restaurant specials and school contests – our Grassroots Partners have been inspired to selflessly give of their time and talent to help us in our mission. We are continually amazed by the ideas and energy that our Grassroots Partners have, and we are forever grateful for their contributions.

We hope that the success of our 2011 Grassroots Partners continues into 2012. With your help, I believe that is possible.

If you are inspired to make hope grow like our Grassroots Partners, consider setting up your own fundraiser for the PBCC. Or if you are unable to commit to coordinating a fundraiser, visit our Events Calendar to see when there is an event near you.