October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. BCA refers to it as Breast Cancer Industry Month because it is the time of year when thousands of companies put a pink ribbon on their products and try to boost their image and their profits by connecting themselves to a good cause. What the pink ribbon stands for is clear. What is not always so clear is where the money from these pink ribbon products is going.
The following list is just a sample of the myriad products out there. BCA asks that before you buy these products or any other pink ribbon items, you “think before you pink”—ask six critical questions and make sure you’re supporting the breast cancer causes you believe in.
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Ford |
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BMW The Ultimate Drive For every mile that you test drive a BMW on participating dates in cities across the United States, the company will donate $1 to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. A line of Pink Ribbon Collection merchandise is also available online. BMW will donate 22–55 percent of gross profits to Komen. Price: $1.00–$50.00 |
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Mercedes Special Edition 2008 C350 Sport Sedan Mercedes-Benz will donate $1 million from the sales of the Special Edition 2008 C350 Sport Sedan to Saks Fifth Avenue’s Key to the Cure program. Price: $37,275 (MSRP) |
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Estee Lauder Pink Ribbon Collection Estee Lauder will donate $500,000 in connection with the sales of its Pink Ribbon Collection to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation Price: $10.00–$45.00 |
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Yoplait Save Lids to Save Lives For every pink lid sent back to the company, Yoplait will donate 10 cents to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, with a minimum total donation of $500,000 and a maximum donation of $1.5 million. Price: $1.00 |
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Aveda Breast Cancer Awareness Hand Relief Four dollars from each sale will fund environmental research at the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Aveda will donate a maximum of $300,000. Price: $20.00 |
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Coach BCRF Multi-Charm Key Fob Coach will donate 20 percent of the proceeds from each key fob to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Price: $58.00 |
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KitchenAid Cook for the Cure KitchenAid will donate $50 for each pink stand mixer purchased, and varying amounts for each of the other qualifying pink products, to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. In conjunction with its pink product collection sales, KitchenAid will donate a minimum of $1,000,000 to Komen. Price: $9.99–$349.99 |
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Bumble and Bumble Bumble and Bumble will donate $1 from every can of Classic Hairspray sold during September and October to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Price: $19.00 |
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Ralph Lauren Pink Pony Products Ralph Lauren will donate 10 percent of the proceeds from Pink Pony products to the Pink Pony Fund of the Polo Ralph Lauren Foundation. Price: $10.00–$498.00 |
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M&M’s |
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Rado Time to Fight Rado will donate 10 percent of the retail sales price from each Sintra Jubilé Pink Collection timepiece to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, with a minimum guaranteed donation of $100,000. Price: $3,500–$11,000 |
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Everlast Worldwide, Inc. Pink Boxing Gloves Everlast will donate 5 percent of the proceeds from sales of pink boxing gloves to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Price: From $34.99 |
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Facebook |
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Lee |
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Glove It Pink Ribbon Collection Glove It will donate $1.80 from the sale of each Pink Ribbon glove set to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, with a guaranteed minimum donation of $10,000. Price: $14.95–$80.00 |
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Avon Pink Ribbon Product Collection Avon donates 50 to 87 percent of the purchase price from sales of pink ribbon fundraising products to the Avon Foundation Breast Cancer Crusade. Price: $3.00–$7.50 |
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QueensLander Tours Cruise for the Cure For each cabin booked for this event, 5 percent of the base cruise commission will go to Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the Denver Metropolitan Affiliate. Price: $751.60–$1191.60 |
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Mattel Pink Ribbon Barbie For each doll sold $2.50 is donated to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, with a guaranteed minimum donation of $25,000.00 Price: $25.00–$39.00 |
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New Balance Lace Up For the Cure 15 percent of wholesale sales from the Lace Up for the Cure Apparel & Footwear Collection will go to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. New Balance will donate a minimum of $500,000 and up to a maximum of $1,000,000. Price: From $5.99 |
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Better Homes and Gardens |
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Ty Beanie Baby SpongeBob SquarePants: Pink Pants Profits from the initial retail sale of this Beanie Baby will aid in the fight against breast cancer. Price: $8.99 |
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Kor Hotel Group Think Pink Guests staying at any of Kor’s U.S. properties during October will have the option of selecting a Think Pink rate or a Think Pink package, 10 percent of which will be donated to the Revlon/UCLA Breast Center. Price: $209.00–$630.00 |
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Oreck Vacuum Cleaners |
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Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products Quilted Northern Ultra Georgia-Pacific will donate 50 cents to Susan G. Komen for the Cure for every proof of purchase collected and mailed in from specially-marked pink ribbon packages of Quilted Northern Ultra, up to a maximum of $500,000. Price: $2.99 and up |
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Conair Power of Pink Products Conair will donate 15 percent of proceeds from the Power of Pink mini hair dryer and Power of Pink hair straightener to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Price: From $19.99 to $29.99 |
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Designs by Marilyn Dorsa Victories Bracelet The net profits from the sales of this bracelet will be donated to the Victories Campaign against breast cancer. Recipients of the funds will be the V Foundation for Cancer Research and the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center at Georgetown University. Price: $280.00 |
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Panera Bread Pink Ribbon Bagels Panera will donate a portion of the proceeds from each sale of Pink Ribbon Bagels to a variety of breast cancer causes throughout the country. Price: $0.89 |
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Hershey’s |
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Fleming Jenkins Vineyards and Winery 2005 Victories Rosé 100 percent of the net profits from Victories will be donated to The Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center at Georgetown University and The V Foundation for Cancer Research, as well as other charities supporting the cause. Price: $20 per 750 ml bottle |
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Wilson Sporting Goods Wilson HOPE Series Wilson will donate a percentage of the Hope tennis and golf product’s proceeds to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Price: Varies |
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Antoine Harris Company Breast Cancer Tie Collection The Antoine Harris Company will donate 10 percent of each breast cancer tie transaction to one of the many Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Chapters. Price: $65.00 |
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The Sak Elsie Shoulder Bag and Hobo The Sak will donate 20 percent of the retail price, up to a total of $15,000. Price: $59,00–$69.00 |
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Juicy Couture Key To The Cure T-Shirt 100 percent of the proceeds from the sale of each T-shirt designed for Saks Fifth Avenue’s Key To The Cure will go to the Women’s Cancer Research Fund, a program of the Entertainment Industry Foundation. Price: $35.00 |
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Qwest and Sanyo Always Pink Phone For each Sanyo pink phone sold, Qwest wireless will donate 10 percent of the retail sales price to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, with a minimum donation of $50,000 and a maximum donation of $100,000. Price: 49.99 with two year agreement |
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3M Company Pink Ribbon Post-It Notes Thirty to fifty cents from Post-It Notes and other Pink Ribbon products will be donated to City of Hope Cancer Research Center. Price: $1.99–$4.95 |
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Lean Cuisine Carry on the Cause Lean Cuisine will donate $5 from the sale of each Lunch Tote to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, with a guaranteed minimum of $50,000. Price: $9.95 |
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The Hamilton Collection A Vision of Hope Breast Cancer Charity Figurine A portion of the proceeds from each purchase will be donated to help find a cure for breast cancer. Price: $19.95 |
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Soft & Dri The Awareness Garden For every flower planted in the online awareness garden, Soft & Dri will donate 25 cents to Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization. Upon reaching 100,000 flowers Soft & Dri will donate $25,000 to Y-ME. |
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Ford Warriors In Pink Ford will donate 100 percent of the net proceeds from sales of Warriors in Pink gear and apparel to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Price: From $5.00–$35.00 |
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Tommy Hilfiger Toiletries Tommy Girl Cologne Spray Tommy Hilfiger Toiletries will make a donation of $15,000 in connection with the sales of this product to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Price: $52.00 |
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MatsMatsMats.com Pink Yoga Mats 10 percent of the purchase price from sales of pink yoga mats will be donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. The mat is made from PVC. Price: $22.00 |
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Clinique Clinique will donate $10 per Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion sold to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Price: $35.00 |
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Energizer Power to Keep Going Tote Bag Energizer will donate $1 to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, up to $10,000 for each Tote Bag redemption mailed in to the company, along with three proofs of purchase from select Energizer batteries. Price: Varies |
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Darphin Rose Aromatic Care Darphin will donate 15 percent of all Rose Aromatic Care proceeds throughout the month of October to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Price: $75.00 |
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tic tac Pink Ribbon tic tacs Through September and October, 5 cents from every pack sold will be donated to CancerCare, with a maximum donation of $100,000. Price: $0.79 |
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Bobbi Brown Pink Ribbon Collection Bobbi Brown will donate $35,000 in connection with the North American Sales of the Pink Ribbon Collection to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Price: $30.00 |
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Hansen’s Help Fight Breast Cancer Hansen’s will match donations made to the City of Hope, using Hansen’s special donation code, up to $1,000 per person. Hansen’s will give a maximum donation of $50,000 per calendar year. Price: Varies |
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Prescriptives Pink Ahead Collection Prescriptives will donate $40,000 from purchases of the Pink Ahead Collection to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Price: $6.00–$17.50 |
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One-A-Day One-A-Day Women’s The One-A-Day brand will donate $300,000 to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Price: Varies based on tablet count |
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La Mer |
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Taylor |
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Jo Malone Red Roses Cologne and Bath Oil Jo Malone will donate $14,000 to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation from the sales of Red Roses Cologne and Bath Oil. Price: $50.00–$90.00 |
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Carolee Breast Cancer Awareness Jewelry Collection Carolee will donate 10 percent of sales from each charm sold to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Price: $45 |
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Lab Series Skincare for Men Daily Moisture Defense Lotion SPF-15 Lab Series Skincare for Men will make a donation of $10,000 in connection with the sales of this product to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Price: $37.50 |
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Wyeth/ChapStick Brand Lip Moisturizer Pink Triple Pack Program Chapstick will donate 20 cents per triple pack sold and make a guaranteed minimum donation of $100,000 to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Price: $3.99 |
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Microsoft Windows Live Messenger i’m initiative Every time a conversation is started using i‘m, Microsoft will donate a portion of the program’s advertising revenue to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Microsoft will make a minimum guaranteed donation of $100,000. |
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Orawave |
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Pier 1 Imports Candle, Jewelry Box, and Embroidered Shawl Pier 1 Imports will donate 25 percent of the sales price from the candle, jewelry box, and embroidered shawl to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, with a minimum guaranteed donation of $250,000. Price: Candle $14.00; Jewelry Box $30.00; Shawl $40.00 |
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Hershey’s |
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Philosophy Shower for the Cure: Pink Ribbon Shower Gel Philosophy will donate 100 percent of the net proceeds from Shower for the Cure to the Women’s Cancer Research Fund. Price: $20.00 |
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Pink Ribbon Emery Board The emery board displays the slogan “The Best Protection Is Early Detection” to “spread awareness”. Price: $0.99 |
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Playtex Passion for Living Gloves In October, Playtex will sell its Passion for Living pink gloves and give a cash donation to The National Breast Cancer Foundation. Price: $2.25 |
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Karen Neuberger Pink Ribbon Signature Collection A portion of the proceeds from pink ribbon stationery, sleepwear, and other accessories will benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, with a minimum donation of $75,000. Price: $12.00–$74.00 |
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Chefwear 50 percent of the profits from the sales of the Awareness Jacket will benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Price: $35.95–$80.95 |
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Eleni’s Cookies Eleni’s Cookies will donate 50 percent of the proceeds from sales of each Breast Cancer Awareness cookie tin to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Price: $35.00–$75.00 per gift set |
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PositivePromotions.com Breast Cancer Awareness A portion of the proceeds from a range of pink ribbon products available on the Positive Promotions web site go to the American Cancer Society. Price: Varies |
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K2 Phat Luv Skis for Women T: Nine Phat Luv Ski K2 donates $100,000 annually from the sales of Phat Luv Skis to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Price: $700.00 |
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Northland Cranberry Juice Drink to Pink A minimum of $50,000 will be donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation from the sale of Northland Cranberry Juices. Donation is made when the product is purchased with a special coupon. Price: $3.49 |