With one out of every eight females expected to receive a breast cancer diagnosis during her lifetime, women across the country are preparing to step up the fight against this deadly – yet treatable – disease during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.
“Eighty percent of our customers are women, and we know that they feel passionately about this cause because it can directly affect their lives, or the life of a mother, aunt, sister or friend,” said Mike Patriarca, president of Quill.com, a leading business-to-business online and direct marketer of office products. “Office communities are great places to generate awareness for the various charities that need support to keep the hope for a cure alive and strong.”
Patriarca suggests the following ways to motivate and mobilize your workplace colleagues to join the breast cancer fight in October:
– Buy office products with a conscience. A portion of proceeds from the sale of Quill.com Pink Products – including staplers, 3M Post-it® Notes, personal organizers and Sharpie® markers – will benefit City of Hope, a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center dedicated to research, treatment and education. In addition, for every purchase made during the first two weeks of October, the company will donate $5 to City of Hope. Quill.com aims to raise $100,000 for City of Hope’s breast cancer program as part of its “Making A Difference Together” campaign.
– Encourage employees to wear jeans and their favorite pink t-shirts each Friday. Collect small donations from each participant to benefit a national charity such as City of Hope or the American Cancer Society.
– Assemble colleagues to participate in a charitable event. Create an office team and sign up for the nearest Walk for Hope to Cure Breast Cancer, Avon Walk for Breast Cancer or 2-Day Walk. Train together and ask your company to match dollars pledged.
– Invite employees to share stories about friends and family who have battled breast cancer. Create an “Inspiration Collage” of survivor photos and profiles on a bulletin board in a communal area of the office – such as the kitchen or breakroom.
– Ensure all female workers over age 40 get screened. Breast cancer is most effectively treated with an early diagnosis. Work with your human resources department to distribute a reminder e-mail that encourages workers to schedule their annual mammograms.
– Take a “day off” to volunteer at a local breast cancer organization or hospice. Find the perfect opportunity that fits the interests and skills of your co-workers through a search engine like www.volunteermatch.org.
– Make your clicks count by visiting websites that promote breast cancer awareness. Visit www.thebreastcancersite.com and click to help fund mammograms for low-income women through the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Starting in October, follow Quill.com on Twitter or “friend” the company on Facebook to learn more about its efforts to raise money for breast cancer research and treatment.
For more ideas on how to make a difference during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, visit www.nbcam.org.
About Quill
Founded in 1956 and headquartered in Lincolnshire, IL, Quill Corporation is the nation’s premier business-to-business direct marketer of office products, custom printing, furniture and technology supplies. Quill maintains 11 regional distribution centers, located strategically throughout the United States, to facilitate fast delivery. Renowned for its outstanding customer service, Quill serves customers through direct marketing, telemarketing, outside sales and online at www.quill.com. Quill.com offers 24-hour-a-day access to more than 50,000 business essentials. Introduced in 1996, Quill.com was one of the first successful Web sites launched in the office products industry and is consistently ranked as one of the best online merchants by Bizrate.com. Quill Corporation has been a wholly-owned subsidiary of Staples, Inc., since 1998.
