We're All In The Pink - With Special Offers, Too!

Lights, camera, go pink!  For the 15^th year, LIGHTS FOR THE CURE, a joint effort by CBS 3 and Susan G. Komen® Philadelphia, is turning the area skyline pink -- from the Avenue of the Arts in Philadelphia to the Battleship New Jersey docked in Camden toLincoln Financial Field in South Philadelphia to the Bethlehem Steel Blast Furnaces in the Lehigh Valley and to the Dow Chemical Company in Newark, Delaware. The campaign recognizes National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which runs October 1^st through October 31^st.  Atlantic City’s lighting of landmarks takes place on Friday, October 7^th in partnership with Susan G. Komen® Central and South Jersey.

Launched in 2002, LIGHTS FOR THE CURE  was the area’s first public service campaign to use the lighting of buildings and landmarks to promote a cause.

Beyond the message broadcast by the lights, the campaign has utilized the airwaves of both CBS-owned stations in Philadelphia, CBS 3 and The CW Philly to generate awareness of breast health, airing more than 2,000 reminders to schedule a mammogram since it started, one every time a building or landmark was showcased in Eyewitness News.

“CBS 3 and The CW Philly are honored to leverage the considerable voice of our two television stations in support of such an important cause,” says Brien Kennedy, President and General Manager of the stations. “In the 15 years since we turned the first building pink, the survivor community has grown significantly, no doubt due to increased awareness and the fine work of organizations like Susan G. Komen.”

“This October, Komen launches our new bold goal to reduce the number of U.S. breast cancer deaths by 50 percent within 10 years,” said Elaine I. Grobman, CEO, Komen Philadelphia. “We couldn’t pursue such an aggressive goal, nor could we have accomplished all we have in the past 30 years, without all-out supporters like CBS 3 by our side. Campaigns like Lights for the Cure, as well as all CBS 3 and CBS Radio invest in our local mission year-round, give us the awareness, resources and confidence to aim high and continue to save more lives every day.”

This year, CBS 3 and your Local Toyota Dealers will once again team up to help raise funds for the cause.   The campaign’s pink Toyota Camry will be on site at numerous events throughout October inviting participants to take a selfie. Toyota will donate $1 for each person who shares the photo with the hashtag #pinktoyota to Susan G. Komen Philadelphia.  Here are just a few locations where the pink Toyota can be found:

• October 5^th: Liberty Place Rotunda in Philadelphia, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• October 14: Starting line of the Susan G. Komen 3 Day® at Willow Grove Mall, 6 to 8 a.m. and at the finish line October 18^th at the Philadelphia Navy Yard
• October 20^th: Cruise Night in Collingswood, New Jersey, 6-9 p.m.
• October 23rd: the SportsRadio 94WIP Tailgate Zone at the South East corner of the Wells Fargo Center parking lot, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

For a complete list of events, go to www.CBSPhilly.com/pinktoyota. Look for a complete list of buildings and landmarks going pink at www.CBSPhilly.com/cure . 

  

CBS 3, The CW Philly and Komen Philadelphia acknowledge the support of The Cancer Center at Kennedy Health and your Toyota Dealers, sponsors of this campaign.  We also thank our community partners in this campaign – One Liberty Observation Deck, Cescaphé Event Group and Philadelphia Parks and Recreation.

In honor of Lights for the Cure’s 15^th anniversary, One Liberty Observation Deck, the place where you can see Philly From The Top and the pink lights up close, is offering a special $15 admission throughout October when you reserve tickets online in advance using code PINK at www.PhillyFromTheTop.com.

CBS 3 (KYW-TV) and The CW Philly (WPSG-TV) are part of CBS Television Stations, a division of CBS Corporation.

Dora Arias Honored As 'New Jersey Hero'

First Lady Mary Pat Christie congratulates Dora Arias, founder of Curémonos as her 30^th New Jersey Hero. (l-r: Dora Arias, First Lady Mary Pat Christie, Assemblywoman Nancy Munoz)

New Jersey's First Lady Mary Pat Christie has named Dora Arias, founder and executive director of Curémonosas the 6th New Jersey Hero of 2014. A Latina breast cancer survivor, Dora recognized the challenges women who speak English as a second language face in understanding their diagnosis and treatment options. She foundedCurémonos, a grassroots community-based organization, to provide education, advocacy and support to medically underserved women dealing with breast cancer. Today’s Hero represents a milestone as the 30th New Jerseyan recognized for the extraordinary work being done by citizens across the Garden State.

“Dora’s story is so inspiring. A breast cancer survivor herself, Dora saw a need within the community and is bringing hope, courage and emotional support to women at a critical time in their lives,” said Mrs. Christie. “Whether it’s accompanying patients to doctor’s appointments, interpreting or providing financial resources, she is truly making a difference by empowering these women about their breast health. I am proud to name Dora Arias as our 6th New Jersey Hero of 2014 and 30th Hero in just four years.”

Since its inception Curémonos has educated over 2,000 women on the importance of breast health and early detection of breast cancer while serving over 300 medically underserved and underinsured women. Clients are served bilingually, biculturally and free of charge.

In addition, the organization has educated over 75 healthcare providers on the cultural aspects and needs of Latinas affected by breast cancer, established a support group in Spanish at the Summit YMCA and developed various one-day programs to help breast cancer patients and their families during their time of need.

First Lady Mary Pat Christie made her New Jersey Heroes presentation during a “Day of Pampering” Curémonosorganized for breast cancer survivors and patients at Sofi’s Color Salon in Summit. The day of pampering, which consists of full makeovers free of cost, is one of the organization’s most successful events and gives the women personalized attention while providing an opportunity for them to regain their self-esteem.

“Curémonos has been the product of countless hours of hard work, tears, and many sacrifices, but beyond that, it is the product of love and passion,” said founder Dora Arias. “I am humbled to receive the New Jersey Heroes Award and would like to thank Mrs. Christie for recognizing my work in the Latino community and for giving me the platform to create awareness about Curémonos and the plight of underserved communities affected by breast cancer. With this award, I hope to further the mission of Curémonos so that underserved women and men affected by this devastating disease are not alone in their journey.”

Dora was instrumental in having New Jersey Congressman Leonard Lance introduce the "Breast Cancer Patient Education Act" of 2012 (H.R.5937). She has been featured and interviewed on the Today Show and was honored by Family Matters - as a Local Hero - Guiding Light. In 2012, she was named a "Model of Courage" by Ford Warriors in Pink and a Patient of Courage by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

Breast cancer is the second most frequently diagnosed cancer among women in the United States, after skin cancer. In fact, every two minutes a new diagnosis of breast cancer occurs. Today, there are more than 2.8 million breast cancer survivors in the United States.

To learn more about Curémonos, visit http://www.curemonos.org/.

New Jersey Heroes is an initiative First Lady Mary Pat Christie began four years ago to showcase the positive and unique ways people and organizations are impacting New Jersey and their communities. To nominate a hero, go to newjerseyheroes.org and follow the application instructions to submit the person you believe is a true New Jersey Hero.

Here's How You Can Help Fight Breast Cancer

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Enjoy Great Pizza, Help Great Cause 10/11

Christie Announces $12 Million In Cancer Funding

Acting on his commitment to provide state funding for services and programs to assist the most vulnerable New Jerseyans, Governor Chris Christie and Health Commissioner Mary E. O’Dowd today visited the Hunterdon Regional Cancer Center in Flemington to announce $12 million in funding for New Jersey Cancer Education and Early Detection program (NJCEED) in his Fiscal Year 2013 Budget. The Hunterdon center provides uninsured and low-income New Jerseyans with access to lifesaving free cancer screenings under the NJCEED program. 

This funding increase continues and strengthens the Christie Administration’s commitment to the delivery of lifesaving care provided at the state's 21 NJCEED agencies that collectively serve tens of thousands of women, children, families and low-income New Jerseyans every year. By increasing state funding sources for NJCEED programs by $3.5 million this year, the Christie Administration has brought total combined state and federal funding for the program this year to $12 million.

“There probably isn’t a family in our state, including mine, that has not been affected by the physical and emotional pain that comes with being diagnosed with cancer,” said Governor Christie. “For someone who is uninsured or under-insured, that burden is even greater. That’s why I have made it a priority in my budget this year to protect funding for NJCEED and the life-saving services it provides to our most vulnerable residents.”

More than 121,000 low-income residents throughout the state have received cancer screenings through the NJCEED program since it began nearly 20 years ago. More than 1,900 cancer cases have been diagnosed since 1993. Last year, the program provided 32,000 screenings to nearly 22,000 people statewide.

NJCEED provides free, comprehensive screening services in all counties for breast, cervical, prostate, and colorectal cancer to residents with incomes that do not exceed 250 percent of the Federal Poverty Level. In 2012, 250 percent of the Federal Poverty Level is $57,625 for a family of four.  

“October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and women should talk to their physicians about what screenings are right for them,” said Commissioner O’Dowd.

Each year in New Jersey, more than 19,000 residents are diagnosed with colorectal, cervical, breast or prostate cancer and more than 4,000 die of those cancers each year.

“No one in New Jersey should have to forego cancer screening because they can’t afford to come to a center like this,” added Commissioner O’Dowd.

The NJCEED Program provides funding to all 21 counties in New Jersey through 22 screening programs called NJCEED Lead Agencies. Those agencies include hospitals, health departments, community health centers and community-based organizations.

The Hunterdon Regional Cancer Center has provided more than 1,600 cancer screenings since its program began in 1997.

“For the past 15 years, Hunterdon Regional Cancer Center has been the recipient of a grant through the Department of Health’s NJCEED program,” said Robert P. Wise, President and CEO of Hunterdon Healthcare. “These funds have helped us provide free screening services for breast, cervical, colorectal and prostate cancer as well as outreach, education and case management services to individuals who do not have adequate health insurance. This grant has made it possible for many individuals in our community to receive potentially life-saving cancer exams.”

To find a NJCEED screening site please visit: http://nj.gov/health/cancer/njceed/index.shtml

Susan G. Komen Disappoints By Caving to Pressure

By now, we're all hearing the news. Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the largest grassroots campaign for breast cancer awareness, has reversed its decision on Planned Parenthood and will continue to fund their programs.

It's a disgrace. I'm very disappointed.

I've admired the work of Susan G. Komen for a long time. For years, I've participated in the Race for the Cure. And while I personally didn't agree with their funding of Planned Parenthood, I begrudgingly understood that you needed to "fish where the fish are," and help the underserved where they lived.

But they don't just live at Planned Parenthood. Komen provides grants to a multitude of organizations that help the poor and needy in a variety of communities. The funding Komen did provide to Planned Parenthood was a small fraction of the funds they receive for mammograms. Planned Parenthood is not the only fish in the ocean, and there are other, more appropriate organizations that could use the money. There are organizations that target poor African American women, the Asian community that shun doctors, Hispanic organizations that break the language barrier. Komen really didn't need Planned Parenthood to get the job done.

When Komen decided to cut ties, I felt they were taking a moral stand. That they no longer wanted an affiliation with an organization with a very dubious past and a current shady underbelly. That the fight against breast cancer was stronger without Planned Parenthood.

But it seems that doing what they felt, and what many people still feel, is the right thing, was too hard. And they changed their mind.

And now Komen no longer stands for a promise between sisters over 30 years ago. They stand for nothing.

For God's sake! If you want to stand for what you believe, then do it! Don't cave after days of pressure. Dissenters always scream the loudest. If you believe it's worth doing, it's worth fighting for.

Unless it's easier to cave under the pressure of obnoxious liberal bullies. Then doing the right thing goes flying out the window.