 | | | Lafayette city employees in the pink Photo provided
| | | | | | What happens when you want to offer support to a colleague, raise awareness about a disease that affects women and men, and the month of October is just around the corner?
You start to think pink. You round up some great bakers who can bake pink or anything chocolate; find a guy who likes to run (in pink); take a handful of pink ribbons; mix in a Youth Commission with ingenious ideas; and talk to a local cafÇ owner with a generous streak.
Employees of the City of Lafayette wanted a way to show support for a co-worker and his family while raising awareness of a disease that affects thousands of women and men. Starting with the goal of raising $250 to contribute to Avon Foundation's Walk for the Cure; city employees held mini office bake-sales on each Friday in October, sponsored a runner (a fellow employee) who ran in the Res Run on October 25th, and hand-crafted pink ribbons for donations.
The group contacted local cafÇ owner Susan Foord and asked if she would join them in their quest to raise funds. Her response was, "How much can I give, when would you like it and what else can I do?" Foord donated 10% of the proceeds from her lunch sales on Friday, October 30th.
The Lafayette Youth Commission solicited donations at the door of their annual Haunted House on October 23rd and 24th, giving a free second tour of the Haunted House to those who put a donation in the little pink box on the ticket sales table.
Every Friday during the month of October city employees wore pink shirts to work; and if you looked closely, you could spot pink ribbons pinned on shirts, jackets, and sweaters all around the City offices on a daily basis.
When the pink dust settled and the coins and bills were counted on November 2nd the final tally was $831.24. No need to adjust your glasses - that figure is correct - $831.24! The grass roots movement of a few dedicated folks allowed the true generosity of the citizens and employees of the City of Lafayette to shine.
Avon Foundation is eagerly waiting for their check; the money is earmarked for a fund that assists Walk for the Cure participants who are short of their monetary goals. Ultimately, those who are battling breast cancer and breast cancer survivors will benefit from this effort.
Is it time for a new bumper sticker? How about "Love, Lafayette" in pink?
|
Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA