FitSugar

KFC's Buckets For The Cure: Cool or Not?

FitSugar — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 12:30:44 PDT

Hmm . . . I'm torn over this one. Fast food retailer KFC launched a new initiative to support breast cancer research. Called Buckets For The Cure (seriously), for each pink bucket of chicken sold, KFC will donate 50 cents to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation. KFC is aiming for a final donation amount of $8 million, which, if reached, will be the largest single donation to date. And that's a lot of buckets!

While I'm quick to consider any donation to breast cancer research a good donation, this partnership confuses me. On a very basic level, fried chicken is not the healthiest menu choice and can lead to obesity. And many doctors agree that obesity puts a woman at higher risk for developing breast cancer, since many breast cancers are fueled by estrogen, a hormone produced by fat tissue.

However strange it seems, the effort is laudable. The Buckets For The Cure website features accounts of survivors and victims of the disease as well as information and other resources. And I assume you can fill your pink bucket with grilled chicken instead of fried for a healthier option. What do you think?

ACTivism: Breast Cancer Three-Day Walk

FitSugar — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 13:30:00 PST

October may be Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but the battle against the disease is fought daily. One great way to join the fight is to raise funds for the Susan G. Komen Foundation by participating in the Breast Cancer Three-Day Walk.

This walk sounds incredible. After raising a minimum of $2,200 for breast cancer research and initiatives, you walk 60 miles over the course of three days - about 15 to 22 miles a day. There are events in 14 cities starting in August and running through November. It might seem early to start planning for something happening at the end of Summer, but informational meetings are happening now (here's the link to the calendar of informational meetings). Plus you are going to want to train because that is half the fun. Plus we all know there are great health benefits to regular walking. Sugar user kscincotta lost 8 lbs. while training last year for her walk! She also raised $8,000 - wow! Good work all the way around!

Want to see if your city is participating? Then just

Chicago – August 8-10
Boston – August 15-17
Cleveland – August 22-24
San Francisco Bay Area – September 5-7
Seattle – September 12-14
Twin Cities – September 19-21
Michigan – September 26-28
Washington, DC – October 3-5
Philadelphia – October 17-19
Atlanta – October 24-26
Tampa Bay – October 31 - November 2
Dallas/Fort Worth – November 7-9
Arizona – November 14-16
San Diego – November 21-23

Do you think you are going to do one? Do the miles seem daunting, or the money? Tell me in the comments section below.

Win a Pink Ribbon Vigor Jacket by New Balance

FitSugar — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 07:30:00 PDT

Help me help you stay warm while I support breast cancer research. Talk about a win/win situation. New Balance teamed up with the great breast cancer research foundation Susan G. Komen for the Cure to create the Lace Up For A Cure clothing line. I am giving away five Pink Ribbon Vigor Jackets with a percentage of the proceeds from the purchase of the jacket going to Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation.

Just log in and take this quiz. You do, however, need to be a TeamSugar member to take the quiz. So if you're not already a member, just register here for an account. One quiz entry per person; all repeat quizzes will be ignored. Also, this part is important, YOU MUST BE LOGGED IN TO TEAMSUGAR FOR YOUR VOTE TO COUNT.

The contest ends Monday, Oct. 22, at 1:00 p.m. PDT, and then I'll randomly select five winners from among the quiz-takers. Make sure to log in and take the quiz before then and don't forget to e-mail this to all your friends and family so they can have a chance at it too!

October Is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

FitSugar — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 07:00:00 PDT

More than 20 years ago, two organizations created a partnership to increase breast cancer awareness. The partnership has grown to include a number of national public service organizations, professional medical associations, and government agencies all working together to build awareness of the disease, share information and provide access to screening services for countless women.

They claimed October as their month to highlight the issue, so today, Oct. 1, marks the first day of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. There are so many great resources out there and here are just a few websites to help you locate any information you might need.

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month: More than just one month a year, the NBCAM has a website with breaking news on breast cancer, lists of patient services, and basic as well as detailed information on the disease.
American Cancer Society: The ACS is dedicated to educating women on how to reduce their risk of developing the disease and finding the best options for treating breast cancer. They believe in early detection and recommend that all women over 40 receive an annual mammogram. The ACS website is loaded with information and they have 24 hour telephone service to offer the comfort of live support and to answer questions about cancer, link callers with resources in their communities, and provide information on local events (1-800-ACS-2345).

There are two more so

Susan G. Komen for the Cure: Founded by Komen's sister, this foundation is dedicated to curing breast cancer at every stage - funding research on the causes and possible cures, as well as helping ease the pain and anxiety those diagnosed with the disease and their families. You can help raise funds for research by participating in the 3 Day Event. It is a three day, 60 mile walk that takes place in major cities all over the country throughout the summer and fall. If you missed the walk this year, you can always aim for next year.
National Breast Cancer Foundation: NBCF's mission is to provide educational programs and funding for free mammograms to women who cannot afford them, as well as provide online resources for women battling breast cancer.

If shopping to support breast cancer research seems more your speed than walking 60 miles, Fab has the website for you!

Source

Savvy Links: The Most Common Place to Lose Your Phone

Emily Co — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 11:32:40 PDT

The most common place to lose your phone - Tecca
Why we should forgive Susan G. Komen For The Cure - The Jane Dough
15 ways to reuse detergent bottles - Wise Bread
Tips to save on medication - LearnVest
Sneaky travel fees to avoid - Real Simple
Career lessons from Facebook's Marissa Mayer - The Grindstone
The busy girl’s guide to not living in a pig sty - The Daily Muse
What is a Roth IRA? - Credit Karma
Affordable Spring fashion trends - AllYou

The Komen Foundation Is Launching a Fragrance

Jaime Richards — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 10:45:55 PST

For nearly 30 years, the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation has been raising funds and awareness to help fight breast cancer. And now, the organization is set to launch a fragrance in April. Promise Me, which will be sold in an eau de parfum ($59) and an eau de toilette ($20-$30), is a floral oriental that will include notes of blood orange, bergamot, mandarin, aldehyde, pink peony, black current, rosewood, wild orchid, white patchouli, and musk.

"My sister was always passionate about fragrance," said Nancy Brinker, sister of the late Susan Komen, founder of the foundation, and author of Promise Me ($10-$32), a book that depicts how the organization came to be. The organization hopes to raise $1 million from sales, but critics are likely to notice that just 13.5 percent of the net sales will go to the foundation.

Look for Promise Me in department stores, drugstores, and on TV in just a few months. The limited-edition fragrance will be sold until October, with plans to launch a different scent next year. Will you check it out?

30 Celebs Including Gwyneth Paltrow, Elizabeth Banks, and Jane Fonda Sign Letter in Support of Planned Parenthood

Annie Scudder — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:50:36 PST

Thirty famous women added their voices to the Susan G. Komen/Planned Parenthood controversy today, writing a letter of support of Planned Parenthood to Komen. Taking a noncontroversial tone, actresses like Gwyneth Paltrow, Jane Fonda, Elizabeth Banks, Scarlett Johansson, and Aisha Tyler, as well as writers including Nora Ephron and Judy Blume, thank Komen for restoring funding to Planned Parenthood for breast cancer screenings.

The letter reads:

We are writing to thank you for reconsidering your funding criteria and resuming funding for the breast cancer prevention, screenings, and education services provided at Planned Parenthood health centers.

We are delighted that the thousands of women who receive care through Komen's partnership with Planned Parenthood - many of whom are poor and live in underserved communities - will continue to be able to receive this lifesaving care.

Early detection saves lives, and education and screening can help fight breast cancer. We share the same mission as the Komen Foundation and Planned Parenthood - to protect and advance women's health.

Do you think Susan G. Komen for the Cure's decision today will make a difference? Weigh in on our poll.

Why Did Susan G. Komen For the Cure Cut Off Funding to Planned Parenthood?

Annie Scudder — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:20:58 PST

For years Susan G. Komen for the Cure has provided Planned Parenthood grants for breast cancer screenings. It recently decided to cut off the women's health provider, causing outrage among many supporters of both groups. Petitions to Komen to change its mind have been circulating on Facebook and across the Internet.

After Komen's decision became public, Planned Parenthood told supporters that "after facing pressure from anti-women's health political organizations, the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation has announced that it is ending future funding for lifesaving breast cancer screenings and breast health education at Planned Parenthood health centers." Supporters know Planned Parenthood provides crucial services besides abortion, and critics of Komen's choice to stop funding assert the irony of cutting off life-saving cancer screenings to show you're pro-life.

As evidence that the decision was politically motivated, women's health activists could point to a recent backlash against Komen from the Evangelical Christian group LifeWay. LifeWay was selling pink Bibles to benefit Komen, when it discovered the breast cancer group gave money to Planned Parenthood. LifeWay immediately pulled the Bibles, getting the attention of pro-life activists. In addition, Komen's founder and CEO, Nancy G. Brinker, is a longtime Republican with ties to the Bush family, and the foundation's newly hired vice president is a former politician with known pro-life positions. Also, Komen cited a controversial investigation of Planned Parenthood in Congress started by a staunchly pro-life member.

Even so, Susan G. Komen's founder and CEO maintained its decision to not fund organizations under investigation is part of a broad effort to reorganize donations and make them more efficient. See Susan G. Komen for the Cure's Nancy G. Brinker explain the foundation's decision below.

Will Susan G. Komen's U-Turn Make a Difference?

Annie Scudder — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 12:40:00 PST

This morning, Susan G. Komen for the Cure announced that it has reversed its decision to stop funding Planned Parenthood's breast cancer screenings. Under pressure from its own affiliates, employees, and supporters, the breast cancer foundation released a statement that began, "We want to apologize to the American public for recent decisions that cast doubt upon our commitment to our mission of saving women's lives." It continued:

Our original desire was to fulfill our fiduciary duty to our donors by not funding grant applications made by organizations under investigation. We will amend the criteria to make clear that disqualifying investigations must be criminal and conclusive in nature and not political. That is what is right and fair.

Acknowledging the damage to its brand, it stated, "We urge everyone who has participated in this conversation across the country over the last few days to help us move past this issue. We do not want our mission marred or affected by politics - anyone's politics." The reversal fell short of an apology to Planned Parenthood for creating a policy that blatantly targeted the organization, and there is still evidence that staunchly pro-life individuals are running the show. But do you think responding to the public's outcry will bring people back on board with Komen?

Will the Susan G. Komen/ Planned Parenthood Controversy Influence Your Donations?

Annie Scudder — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:19:20 PST

NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced today that he's going to donate $250,000 to Planned Parenthood after Susan G. Komen For the Cure cut funding for breast cancer screenings. In his statement, Mayor Bloomberg, who will match every new dollar raised up to $250,000, explained:

"Politics have no place in health care. Breast cancer screening saves lives and hundreds of thousands of women rely on Planned Parenthood for access to care. We should be helping women access that care, not placing barriers in their way.”

With evidence growing that Komen's decision was politically motivated, despite denials, donations to Planned Parenthood have soared. Hundreds of thousands of dollars have been raised since the funding cut went public. Will the growing controversy prompt you to give?