20 Years of Thinking Pink

Next month marks the 20th anniversary of the Estée Lauder Breast Awareness Campaign. The Breast Cancer Research Foundation was founded by Evelyn Lauder (1936-2011) who was the Senior Corporate V.P. and Head of Fragrance Development for the Estée Lauder Companies, and who helped name the Clinique Brand, and developed such globally successful fragrances as Beautiful and Pleasures. 

Lauder's personal experience with early stage breast cancer in 1987 led her to co-create, with Alexandra Penney of SELF magazine, the now ubiquitous Pink Ribbon in 1992. The Pink Ribbon is a universal icon and is recognized as the worldwide symbol of breast health. 

In 1989, she and her husband, Leonard Lauder, son of the late founder of the company, raised $18 million to establish the Evelyn H. Lauder Breast Center at Memorial Sloan-Kettering, which has become a worldwide model for coordinating supportive services for breast cancer patients.

In 1999 and again in 2007, Lauder was featured in Crain's New York Business magazine as one of New York's 100 most influential women in business. In 2010 Ms. Lauder received the Fashion Group International Humanitarian Award in recognition for her work with BCRF and her tireless work to eradicate breast cancer.

Lauder's good work continues posthumously as her campaign celebrates its 20th year. This October (Breast Cancer Awareness Month) there are a wide array of products for sale with a portion of proceeds benefiting the cause, including a hand cream from Aveda, hairspray from Bumble and Bumble, and blush from Bobbi Brown. You can see a selection here.

Estee Lauder Evelyn Lauder Dream Lip Collection $29.50 @ Nordstrom

At Nordstrom,  The Evelyn Lauder Dream Collection includes Pure Color Long Lasting Lipstick in Candy, Pure Color Gloss in Pink Innocence plus a pink snakeskin-printed clutch.  For each purchase of $29.50, Estée Lauder will donate 20% of the purchase price to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation from August 2012 to June 2013.

JCPenney is supporting The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, too, by offering free styling and haircuts to breast cancer survivors at its salons, and donating $1 for every free haircut it gives (up to $50,000) to the Foundation. The store is also raising funds through customer donations, asking customers to round up their purchases to the nearest dollar, with the difference going to the Foundation. 

In loving memory of our dear friend, Barbara Minsky, who we lost to breast cancer in October 1990- two years before the launch of the Estée Lauder Breast Awareness Campaign.