Nine West and Modelinia Team Up for Steps for a Cause

The 2nd Annual Steps for a Cause. Cool and creative idea as a way to give back! Click the link to learn how Nine West, Modelina and CFDA are making a difference. This is a great example how to leverage your networks and partnerships for the 'greater good.'

Nine West and Modelinia Team Up for Nine West Targets Breast Cancer's Second Season

Photo Source: Modelina and Nine West.

Pink Pony Collection by Ralph Lauren Supports Breast Cancer

Lauren combines fashion with philanthropy again! The Pink Pony Fund was established at the Ralph Lauren Foundation and is supported by funds raised through the Pink Pony Collection. Ralph Lauren launched the Pink Pony Fund initiative after the death of his friend Nina Hyde battle with breast cancer. Ms. Hyde was fashion editor at the The Washington Post.

The Pink Pony Collection supports breast cancer programs for "early diagnosis, education, treatment and research and is dedicated to bringing patient navigation and quality cancer care to medically underserved communities." Ten percent (10%) of proceeds from Pink Pony Collection products benefit the Pink Pony Fund.

“Breast cancer is not just a woman’s issue - it affects all of us, the brothers, husbands, fathers, children and friends. Pink Pony is our effort in the fight against cancer,” Lauren said.

Afterglow Cosmetics Commits to The Young Survival Coalition

Afterglow Cosmetics has taken their mission and corporate social responsibility and bridged it with their social mission in an authentic, compelling, and moving way. Their message has to be the most powerful messages I have ever come across in my line of work! To read and listen Afterglow Cosmetics commitment to charity is really moving.

Afterglow Cosmetics uses their unique natural formulation and focus on natural and certified organic, bio-active botanicals of the highest quality to ensure that all products are safer for your skin and body. It is free of many of the synthetic preservatives, bismuth oxychloride, petro-chemicals, synthetic dyes and fillers found in traditional cosmetics.

They took what they stood for and created a lipstick that is safe, splendid and a superior shade of Muse (pink.) "We hoped to create a shade so superior, it was goddess worthy. Naturally, when dreaming up colors we looked to myths of goddess for inspiration. The enchanting, inspiring nature of the Muses became our inspiration and our Organic Lip Love Lipstick shade Muse was born."

Their pink shade, Muse, serves as a "symbol of strength and enduring beauty to young women fighting breast cancer." To support this, Afterglow Cosmetics partners with the Young Survival Coalition an organization who works with survivors, caregivers and the medical, research, advocacy and legislative communities to increase the quality and quantity of life for women diagnosed with breast cancer ages 40 and under.

Afterglow will donate $2 of every purchase of Muse to help support women under 40 diagnosed with breast cancer.

PUMA Mixes its Signature Red with Project Pink

Just one day ago PRNewswire released that PUMA is partnering with WPS....

I don't know about you, I have always like the story behind PUMA and the quality of their athletic attire as a runner. But PUMA is soccer more of a brand associated with soccer than perhaps running. That is okay by me, as I think the sport of soccer has opened up many doors for young girl athletes. Furthermore, I always recommend to fitness apparel brands I work with to think about how they can leverage their professional alliances to enhance their giving back programs. For some reason, this works best for athletic brands. Why? I don't know, but it does.

Now there is even a better reason to absolutely love PUMA, they just announced their new initiative that links women's soccer with a well-deserving cause: launching this month, PUMA's Project Pink will strive to raise awareness — and funds — in support of the fight against breast cancer. In conjunction with their partnership with Women's Professional Soccer (WPS), PUMA will outfit some of the best female players in the world in special Project Pink kits for five WPS matches. (source PRNewsire)

As stated in the PRNewswire release: "In line with the first match, PUMA's new range of Project Pink merchandise is set to debut on July 26 on shop.puma.com and at select PUMA Stores and other retail partners. It will also be sold at participating stadiums during WPS games throughout the season. Allowing soccer fans and novice athletes to show their support alongside their favorite players, PUMA's Project Pink replica jersey, tee-shirts in pink and white, trainer and (mini) skill ball, and gym sack will all be available for purchase.

In an effort to drive additional awareness to the cause, the brand will be using the Twitter hash tag #projectpink when communicating updates about Project Pink and will also encourage fans creating content to do the same. For every tweet using the hash tag from July 31 through October 18, PUMA will donate an additional $1 to the Project Pink cause, up to a maximum of $25,000. PUMA will count one tweet using the hash tag per user per day.

PUMA became an official founding partner of WPS and an official sponsor of all WPS franchises in December 2008. The multi-year partnership makes PUMA the official sport and lifestyle apparel, footwear and equipment supplier of WPS, including the official WPS Match Ball; PUMA is also the official supplier of PUMA WPS Fanwear. PUMA's roster of WPS athletes includes four-time FIFA World Player of the Year, Marta, as well as Natasha Kai, Leslie Osborne, Amy Rodriguez, Karina LeBlanc, and Alex Scott."

For more information about Project Pink and PUMA's partnership with WPS, visit wps.pumafootball.com.

PUMA is one of the world's leading Sportlifestyle companies that designs and develops footwear, apparel and accessories. It is committed to working in ways that contribute to the world by supporting Creativity, SAFE Sustainability and Peace, and by staying true to the principles of being Fair, Honest, Positive and Creative in decisions made and actions taken. PUMA starts in Sport and ends in Fashion. Its Sport Performance and Lifestyle labels include categories such as Football, Running, Motorsports, Golf and Sailing. Sport Fashion features collaborations with renowned designer labels such as Alexander McQueen, Mihara Yasuhiro and Sergio Rossi. The PUMA Group owns the brands PUMA, Cobra Golf and Tretorn. The company, which was founded in 1948, distributes its products in more than 120 countries, employs more than 9,000 people worldwide and has headquarters in Herzogenaurach/Germany, Boston, London and Hong Kong. For more information, please visit http://www.puma.com/
SOURCE PUMA

Read more about the parntership here: http://www.sacbee.com/2010/07/26/2915601/puma-mixes-up-its-signature-red.html#ixzz0uuV6G8RI

Lace'm Up for $140 for a Cure

Okay this is one expensive pair of running shoes. I know, I am a veteran long distance runner of nearly 35 years and I have make a significant investment in my running shoes as good shoes and the right shoe for me helps prevent injury.

Now, I have never worn New Balance. I don't need a straight-last, mid-foot striker shoe and I don't need the wide toe box. But it's a good fit for someone who does needs those things. The other reason I've not worn New Balance, is because, well, it has suede - which makes for a heavier training/race-day shoe and I've always seen it as a shoe that appeals to men versus Ryka or Reebok for women. But New Balance is counting on women to spend $140 on these pretty pink running shoes as a way to commemorate Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure 20th Anniversary. New Balance has been sponsoring this event for twenty years.

It's not so much the cost of the shoe, comparable to high-profile basketball sneakers, but as a cause-marketing campaign it customizes each buyer to have stitched on the tongue of the shoe, "In Honor of" or "Lace Up, " or "Running for" which is really pretty cool. That is what I think women will buy... the emotional attachment to the shoe being customized for them or a friend or loved one. The majority of women have to have the connection to, emotional feeling toward, to be compelled to buy, do are stand for something.

No matter how much New Balance does for breast cancer, I still have them as a male running shoe product ingrained in my head and have for years, but I must admit this may be one way to get this runner to change course.