A toast to Finding a Breast Cancer Cure

edited by Madelyn Miller the TravelLady

The pink ribbon has become symbolic with a search for the cure for breast cancer. Many manufacturers are supporting the quest by donating a portion of sales in October, Breast Cancer Awareness month to fund research

Doing good by looking Good

Back in 2001 Lolita went out on a girl’s night out with a bunch of dear friends.  She ordered a Cosmopolitan for the first time.  When the drinks came to the table, she noticed how naked and boring they looked, especially for such a special occasion.  The artist in her was crying out.

The next day, she decided to start hand-painting and selling glasses out of her basement.  With two toddlers hanging onto her legs, she worked day and night.  She designed each glass to represent special moments and personalities in life.  They also contain a recipe on the bottom.  She’d sell about 2,000 glasses a year.  Today she sells over 4 million!  She literally went from housewife to entrepreneur! 

She created hand-painted “Pink Ribbon” glasses to help in the fight against breast cancer.  A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.  They are her biggest seller, as people love to celebrate survival. 

To purchase glasses:  http://www.thelolitastore.com

Limited-edition Mike's Hard Pink Lemonade ™  

New Flavor Supports Breast Cancer Research in Honor of Former Employee Who Battled Disease 

An often-requested flavor, mike’s hard pink lemonade™ has been in development for almost two years. When Jacqueline S., a part of the Mike’s family since its founding, lost a long battle with breast cancer in January, company employees decided to make its new offering about more than just a new flavor or a celebration of its anniversary.  In memory of Jacqueline, the company is providing a $250,000 donation to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation®, a leading national breast cancer organization dedicated to funding innovative clinical and translational research and increasing public awareness about good breast health.  

“Though we’ve always honed our reputation for being hard, right now we are proud to show a softer side with our new mike’s hard pink lemonade,” said Philip W. O’Neil, President of Mike’s Hard Lemonade Co. “Mike’s is a small, family-owned company and when something significant happens – good or bad – to one of our employees, it reverberates throughout the company.  In Jacqueline’s case, she worked for our founder & CEO since he founded the company.  When we lost her early this year, it was a very sad day for many.” 

“We researched many breast cancer organizations and chose The Breast Cancer Research Foundation because of their focus on research and reputation as a highly regarded and efficient organization,” added O’Neil. “The donation is our way of honoring Jacqueline and helping fight a fight that’s very personal to us here at Mike’s.” 

The lightly carbonated beverage has a sweet, yet tart pink lemonade taste, reminiscent of old-fashioned, fresh-squeezed lemonade.  The drink is available in liquor, grocery, club and convenience stores nationwide through October 2009.  

 www.mikeshard.com.

About Mike's Hard Lemonade

Seattle-based Mike’s Hard Lemonade Co. is a registered tradename of Mark Anthony Brands, Inc, a Washington Corporation.  Mike’s Hard Lemonade Co. defined the $1.7 billion flavored malt beverage category with the introduction of its ground breaking mike’s hard lemonade® in Canada in 1996 and then in the United States in 1999.  Mike’s core product line is comprised of premium malt beverages, premium malt cocktails and hard teas.    

About The Breast Cancer Research Foundation

The Breast Cancer Research Foundation® was founded in 1993 by Evelyn H. Lauder as an independent, not-for-profit 501(c) (3) organization dedicated to funding innovative clinical and translational research. The Foundation supports scientists at top universities and academic medical centers worldwide conducting the most advanced and promising breast cancer research that will lead to prevention and a cure in our lifetime. A minimum of 85 cents of each dollar donated to the Foundation goes directly to breast cancer research and awareness programs. In October 2008, nearly $35 million will be awarded to 166 scientists across the United States and in Australia, Canada, Latin America, the Middle East, and throughout Europe. And for the seventh consecutive year, BCRF received Charity Navigator's highest rating, four stars, thus outperforming over 99% of the evaluated charities, while the American Institute of Philanthropy has awarded BCRF its highest possible rating of A+. BCRF is the only breast cancer organization in the U.S. to receive these accolades. For more information, visit www.bcrfcure.org or call 1.866.FIND.A.CURE. 

Pinky Vodka Partners with WHAT A PAIR! to raise funds and public awareness for Breast Cancer Research

As the first vodka created for women, Pinky Vodka  is passionate about women’s issues. Today, Pinky announced that they are partnering with and supporting What A Pair! , a Los Angeles-based non-profit organization dedicated to raising funds for breast cancer research, for an extended campaign.

In addition, during the month o October 2009, Pinky Vodka will donate to What A Pair! $2 from every bottle purchased at select retail outlets. Customers who support What A Pair! with a purchase will receive a Pinky manicure set. 

Pinky will also host What A Pair! nights at participating bars and restaurants in Calif. For every Pinky cocktail purchased, $1 will be donated to What A Pair!

About Pinky Vodka

Pinky is made like no other vodka; it’s hand blended by champion wine tasters with violets, rose petals and ten other botanicals, making every drink taste better.  Packaged in an eye-catching perfume bottle, the delicate flavors of Pinky are driven by esters and delivers pleasant floral notes. Launched globally in 2008, Pinky is already an international sensation in world duty free locations. Pinky is available in several states in the U.S., including California and New York. For more information, visit www.pinkyvodka.com .

About What a Pair

What A Pair! is a one-night only Broadway caliber production featuring eclectic pairings of female celebrities from television, film, music and theatre singing duets. What A Pair! has raised over $2-million dollars for breast cancer research and is partnered with the John Wayne Cancer Institute at Saint John’s Health Center as the beneficiary to increase awareness and fund research, supporting the fight to eradicate breast cancer.  www.whatapair.org 

Peju Winery donates a  Portion of Sales of Peju Pink Wine to Breast Cancer Patient Care and Research Organizations

Peju Winery supports October Breast Cancer Awareness Month with the 2008 vintage of Peju Pink wine. Peju is joining the fight against breast cancer by donating ten percent of sales from each bottle of its third vintage of Peju Pink to organizations that help breast cancer patients and advance breast cancer research.

Earlier this year, Peju donated more than $12,000 to the Napa Queen of the Valley Medical Complex Breast Center from a portion of the sales of the 2007 vintage of its Peju Pink wine. The contribution was designated to directly assist women in need of breast cancer treatment and care due to expense and insurance limitations. Since 2007, Peju has donated nearly $50,000 to breast cancer organizations from both the sales of the Peju Pink wine and through participation in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in San Francisco and the American Cancer Society Relay for Life in Napa.

Peju Pink came to fruition in the winter of 2007 when the women of Peju wanted to create a wine to honor the many lives that have been touched by breast cancer. Winemaker Sara Fowler, along with owners Herta, Lisa and Ariana Peju, created a blush-style blend and chose to donate a portion of its proceeds to breast cancer research and patient care.

“Most of us know at least one woman who has been diagnosed with breast cancer, and every three minutes another woman in the United States is diagnosed,” Herta Peju said. “Peju Pink is our way of recognizing the women fighting breast cancer and contributing toward the effort to find a cure.”

Peju Pink retails for $22.00 per bottle and is available for sale exclusively in Peju’s tasting room and online at www.peju.com. Peju Pink is a fragrant blush-style wine with hints of crisp peach and passion fruit and is served chilled. The Peju Pink label features a woman in pink who depicts one of the three Greek graces from a 100-year-old stained glass window in the Peju tasting room tower.

About Peju Winery:

Established in 1982, Peju is a small, family-owned and operated winery located in Napa Valley’s Rutherford Appellation. A certified Napa Green Winery committed to producing high-quality, earth-friendly wines through the use of organic and sustainable farming practices and solar power. Visitors to Peju are invited to enjoy  pristine gardens, art exhibit, extensive gift shop, three wine clubs and an on-premise kitchen that hosts a variety of events and classes. Tasting room is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and is located at 8466 St. Helena Hwy, Rutherford, Napa Valley, CA. For more information, visit www.peju.com or call 800-446-7358.

Madelyn Miller is a travel and food writer who was thinking of her cousins Saralee and Nancy while writing this. Read her stories on www.travellady.com, www.cocktailatlas.com, www.carladynews.com, www.yogayaya.com, www.chocolateatlas.com, www.teaAtlas.com, www.coffeeatlas.com