Great Day for a Pinknic ... And for FUNdraising for The Rose

A gorgeous day, a breathtaking setting, supportive sponsors, hard-working volunteers and the commitment of event organizers Kathy Morgan, Beth Dennard and Bonnie Sawyer made Pinknic one of the top ten fundraisers for The Rose in a month of awareness-building for the nonprofit breast health organization.

Carothers Coastal Gardens in Seabrook provided the perfect backdrop to the pink covered tables, pink-infused auction-items, pink lunch bags and even a pink-adorned and statuesque pelican which helped bring the day’s fundraising efforts to more than $12,200. 

 “To everyone who bid on the bounty of auction items, enjoyed the delightful picnic lunches and baked goods as well as the music by Mickey Hobbs, we cannot say enough ‘thank you’s’,” noted Dorothy Gibbons, CEO and Co-Founder of The Rose. “Your support truly enables The Rose to take ‘me to the second power’ and multiply our efforts throughout 25 counties.”

Gibbons was referencing the recently launched Me2 campaign of The Rose which encourages women to think “me, too” and make their health a priority while simultaneously acknowledging the community’s role in the nonprofit’s ongoing provision of services to the uninsured. While October is deemed “breast cancer awareness month” nationwide, The Rose depends on the numerous fundraising efforts that are scheduled on top of the educational events. In November, The Rose announced a record-breaking 83 fundraisers were put on by schools, sports teams, beauty product retailers, restaurants and bars in support of The Rose, bringing in more than $235,000.

And while organizers and The Rose staff are grateful for the incoming funds which will help cover the costs of the nearly 10,000 women who need some level of financial assistance annually, the event made an additional impact on the Seabrook community. Beth Dennard reported that Dodie Miller, owner of Miller Machines in Seabrook, who won the Pelican of Seabrook’s Pelican Path Project, intends to donate his newly acquired and soon to be painted pelican to the Seabrook Fire Department.

The Rose -- currently with two locations and a mobile fleet that extends to 25 counties -- has been serving the Bay area for all 27 years of its existence, and the commitment continues. Last year, 9,571 Bay Area residents were provided screenings and 2,064 received diagnostic services. Of those, 111 had their cancers detected.

Pinknic sponsors and underwriters for the inaugural event included Bright Futures Consulting, the City of Seabrook, Libby Jones, realtor with Gary Greene, Smith Analytical, Bolivar RV Resort, Hill’s Discount Liquor, Neptune Subs, Panera Bread, Robinette Catering, Arlan’s, Kroger, Randalls, and Classic Café, Cake Place.