It seems too good to be true—you get an excuse to shop because you can attribute it to a good cause? Welcome to October, known as Breast Cancer Awareness Month in the United States. Businesses around the country are doing their part to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research. Before we get to the good stuff, here are some quick facts on breast cancer, courtesy of ItThing.com:

  1. 25% of women with breast cancer are younger than 50 years old.
  2. Each year an estimated 1700 men are diagnosed with breast cancer. 26% of those men will die.
  3. About 1 in 8 women (12%) will get breast cancer in her lifetime.
  4. There are more than 2.5 million breast cancer survivors in the United States
  5. More than 28% of cancers in women are breast cancer (lung cancer is the most prevalent, thanks to smoking—ew!)

OK, now on to the good stuff! Many manufacturers are offering “pink” versions of their products – along with some original products—to raise funds for breast cancer research and awareness. Some of my favorites include:

newbalanceshoe

New Balance 860, $99.99: New Balance will contribute 5% of the suggested retail price of sales from the Lace Up for the Cure® Collection with a guaranteed minimum donation of $500,000 each year to Susan G. Komen for the Cure® through 2012.

While New Balance’s are the fanciest shoes in the planet, they are comfy and they specifically state how much of the proceeds are going to a non-profit fund, which I like.

 

cocktailring

 

Pave Flower Big Cocktail Ring from Overstock Jeweler, $29.99: Sometimes my inner “crow” comes out (Harry calls women who like sparkly things “crows", get it?) and I find things like this ring, which I absolutely love.  I also like that it isn’t completely pink. I love pink, don’t get me wrong, but this ring could work with almost any outfit (even my sweats, right?!). Overstock Jeweler is donating 10% of all profits from items on its Breast Cancer Awareness page to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

 

pink-watch

Another find from Overstock Jeweler- the Crystal Jewelry Watch, $34.99. Simple, but elegant, and a good price to boot.

 

 

 

 

 

 

owl-tshirt

Sleepy Owl Tee, $19.95 from thebreastcancersite.com: Anyone who knows me knows I’m obsessed with owls, so this tee is right up my alley. And the description says, “Hoo‘s sleepy? Not you — not when you’re popping with pizazz like this!” Touché, clever copywriter, touché.

The website says this purchase will fund 1% of a mammogram. Further searching found this info: When you shop at The Breast Cancer Site store, each item purchased generates funds for free mammograms for women in need — at no extra cost to you! For each item purchased, 3% to 50% of the item’s retail price will be kept aside to be granted to our charity partners through GreaterGood.org.

Be sure to be aware how much of the proceeds are really going to breast cancer organizations before purchasing anything. These article does a good job of explaining funds and how to be cautious: Where the Money Goes: A Breast Cancer Donation Guide, Pink Proceeds, Where Does the Money Go? and Critical Questions to Ask Before You Buy Pink.

Also, you can go to this site every day and click to give a free mammogram to a women who needs it—Click to give FREE Mammograms!

This post was sponsored by My1Stop.com, a Kansas company which makes custom gift cards and other custom printing materials.

Kelsey Jones

Kelsey Jones

Founder/Chief Marketing Consultant at Six Stories
Kelsey Jones helps clients around the world grow their social media, content, and search marketing presence. She enjoys writing and consuming all kinds of content, both in digital and tattered paperback form.
Kelsey Jones
Kelsey Jones