I was saddened to hear the news this morning that EvelynLauder had died after a battle with ovarian cancer. She was the co-creator of the
Pink Ribbon campaign and founder of The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
Under her guidance The Breast Cancer Research Foundation raised over $350 million for cancer research while maintaining an A+ rating from CharityWatch and being the only cancer organization to receive Charity Navigator's highest rating of four-stars for eight consecutive years. She was a woman with vision and integrity!
Under her guidance The Breast Cancer Research Foundation raised over $350 million for cancer research while maintaining an A+ rating from CharityWatch and being the only cancer organization to receive Charity Navigator's highest rating of four-stars for eight consecutive years. She was a woman with vision and integrity!
I had the pleasure meeting Mrs. Lauder in New York through the Proven Winners InvincibelleSpirit Campaign for BCRF. She and the Foundation staff were thrilled that
garden centers and nurseries across North America had teamed up to support
breast cancer research by hosting Pink Day fundraisers. She was also surprised when we raised over $440,000 in
just two years.
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| Pink Day at DeGroots Nursery in Ontario, Canada |
It was my hope to see her again when we reached our one million dollar goal and to present her with one of those big cardboard checks. She would have been so pleased. Not just for the donation, but because an entire industry had joined together with her in the fight against breast cancer. She would have said "Thank you, to everyone involved, to all of the growers and to all the employees of the 160 plus garden centers that hosted Pink Day events."
Thank you Evelyn, for inspiring us all!
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| Otten Bros. Garden Center & Landscaping, Inc. Long Lake, MN |
