“Pink Pals” raise over $13,000 for Memorial Hermann In the Pink of Health

THE WOODLANDS, Texas - “Pink Pals” – an initiative launched this year by the Memorial Hermann In the Pink of Health committee – is raising funds in a new way.

“There are many people in Montgomery County who can't serve on our committee or attend the Memorial Hermann In the Pink of Health Luncheon, but still feel a strong desire to get involved,” said Kelly Hull, the creative mind behind Pink Pals. “That’s what Pink Pals is all about.”

A community fundraising program, Pink Pals enables individuals or groups to join the fight against breast and ovarian cancer in their own way. From t-shirt and bake sales to carwashes and golf tournaments, Montgomery County’s passionate residents have been mobilizing to raise funds on behalf of the Memorial Hermann Foundation and In the Pink of Health. More than $13,000 has been raised to date.

Program trailblazers include District 16-A girls basketball teams, Legacy Preparatory Christian Academy Junior High Cheerleaders and Paddington British Storybook Garden School.

“When I was hired at College Park High School eight years ago, I was asked by my head coach at the time to organize the breast cancer awareness game between College Park and The Woodlands. I was happy to participate because breast cancer has touched my life through family, friends and even students,” said Michelle Richardson, head girls basketball coach at College Park High School.

“The first year we designed t-shirts to sell to fans of both schools with the proceeds benefiting a non-profit. It was so well received that we’ve grown the program district wide. This year we sold 390 shirts and were able to donate $5,000 to In the Pink of Health, which we chose because the money stays in our community.”

The Junior High cheer coaches at Legacy Preparatory Christian Academy agree: “We teach our cheerleaders to be Christ-like examples for others and to lead with giving hearts. So we were thrilled when they happily baked and decorated pink sweets to sell at multiple football and volleyball games to raise money for breast cancer awareness,” said Danielia Mickan and Angie Condley, co-coaches. “Our cheerleaders wanted to make an impact on our community, so we chose In The Pink Of Health at Memorial Hermann since all the donated funds are used locally. They excelled in their efforts – raising $500 – and we could not be more proud of them.”

The next Pink Pals event will empower the entire community to get involved. On Thursday, May 28, Whole Foods Market The Woodlands will donate 5 percent of the day’s net sales to the Memorial Hermann Foundation and In the Pink of Health. It’s a part of the store’s Community Giving Day initiative.

“Each quarter we select a local organization to support, and, In the Pink of Health was an obvious choice. They give back so much to the women in Montgomery County,” said Maria Bergh, marketing team leader at Whole Foods Market The Woodlands. “We’d love our community to join us to create an even bigger impact for their beneficiaries by shopping for a cause on May 28.”

For more information on how to become involved in Pink Pals, call 713-897-PINK or email inthepink@memorialhermann.org.

Since its inception in 2001, Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Hospital’s In the Pink of Health Luncheon and affiliated events have generated more than $3.5 million dollars. This money has been reinvested into Montgomery County to fund cutting-edge technology, programs and services for breast—and now ovarian—cancer patients and survivors. For more information, including details on this year’s luncheon, call 713.897.PINK (7465) or visit www.inthepinkofhealth.org.