October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and stores are becoming a sea of pink. It seems like a win-win situation: you purchase a new item, and your money goes where it can make a real difference. I used to view this entire month with rose-colored glasses (a soft pink, to be exact). Turns out though, many companies only donate a fraction of proceeds toward breast cancer causes... and honestly, I'd rather spend my money where it will make the biggest impact. Here are 14 breast cancer awareness products that donate 100% of proceeds to the cause — in other words, this is your go-to October shopping guide.
I first realized that all breast cancer awareness (BCA) initiatives weren't created equally when I read a 2015 article via Sports Illustrated about the NFL's highly-publicized BCA efforts. I loved the pink jerseys and cheerleading uniforms that teams debuted every October, and was eager to purchase the products on sale all month. However, according to the article, only 8% of the proceeds from each sale actually went toward research and cancer-awareness programs. One in eight United States women will develop invasive breast cancer in her lifetime, according to BreastCancer.org, and an estimated 268,600 of women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer by the end of this year. Needless to say, I was ready to direct my support towards brands that really prioritize contributing to research. If you want your purchase to make the most impact, too, invest in one of the following BCA products, and you can rest assured that your money is going where it should.
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