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DownEast Home & Clothing has raised $25,000 this year for cancer education and patient financial assistance, bringing the Utah-based retailer's four-year campaign to $88,000.
This fall, DownEast also put together a special "LIVE for Pink" photo shoot featuring 12 women whose lives were in some way touched by breast cancer. The women selected responded to DownEast's first-ever open casting call for the campaign by writing a brief essay on how they were affected by the disease.
"We received an amazing response from women of all backgrounds. One of the hardest — and most gratifying — things I've ever had to do in my job was to choose the finalists for the photo shoot. There were so many inspiring entries," said Candy Friedli, director of apparel for DownEast.
Through its "LIVE for Pink" events, DownEast has raised funds in honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The donations will go to Needs Beyond Medicine, a Utah-based organization that provides cancer education, access to screening and financial support for cancer patients.
"Each year, we've been touched by the enthusiastic support of our customers," Klane Murphy, CEO of DownEast, said in a statement.
DownEast and its staff support a variety of philanthropic causes year-round. But supporting breast cancer awareness is an especially important cause given its direct impact on the people behind DownEast and their families.
Breast cancer survivors include Murphy's wife Llilli, and Claire Freedman, mother of company founders Jonathan, Bill and Charlie Freedman.
The retailer operates nationally with its Basics line via its online store, in addition to 47 brick-and-mortar locations in Utah, Colorado, California, Idaho, Arizona, Washington, Nevada and Wyoming.
For more information about Needs Beyond Medicine, visit http://www.needsbeyondmedicine.org.