BC3’s Project Pink begins again, has raised $24K
Melissa Philson survived malignant invasive ductal carcinoma, estrogen and progesterone receptor positive, HER 2 negative.
She is a Butler County Community College psychology professor and co-adviser of the college’s social awareness club, which this month is conducting a Project Pink campaign. During Octobers since 2010 the campaign has raised about $24,000 to support breast cancer awareness and research.
The club is seeking gift card contributions by Oct. 15 from BC3 departments, student clubs, organizations and employees, and from businesses or community members. Club members will sell raffle tickets for the gift cards from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Oct. 29 from a Project Pink tent to be raised on the college’s main campus in Butler Township.
Tickets will also be sold at the college bookstore from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 30 and from 8:30 a.m. until noon Oct. 31. A drawing will follow at 12:30 p.m. in the bookstore and winners will be notified after 1 p.m.
The college’s bookstore will sell short-sleeve Project Pink shirts beginning Oct. 15 for $18. Five dollars from each sale will be contributed to the campaign, according to Rich Benko, bookstore manager.
Seventy-five percent of Project Pink’s 2025 proceeds will be contributed to A Glimmer of Hope Foundation, Wexford. The nonprofit organization, its website states, supports research, programs and studies — particularly focusing on premenopausal breast cancer, which is often more aggressive in younger women.
Twenty-five percent of funds raised will support a new BC3’s Project Pink for Hope Scholarship established by Philson to be awarded by the BC3 Education Foundation to a BC3 student who is a cancer survivor or who helped a loved one to battle the disease.
Philson said she will also match dollar for dollar up to $500 any donation to the scholarship made through the BC3 Education Foundation in October.
Bill Foley is coordinator of news and media content at Butler County Community College.
