The Links, Inc. Greater Wayne County Chapter signature Pink Ball will bring together some of Detroit’s top executives, who gather together to raise funds to fight breast and cervical cancer annually.
The event, which represents a veritable Who’s Who of Detroit, raised more than $75,000 in 2010 for the Karmanos Cancer Institute’s breast and cervical cancer prevention programs, in addition to other Links initiatives.
The gift filled a programming gap realized by a shortfall in government funding and provided 350 women the opportunity to receive vital testing related to breast and cervical cancer. Lives were saved and paths of reconstruction developed through this effort.
The event, a part of the “Healthy Women – Empowered Communities Initiative,” stems from Links membership commitment to address the rising health crisis among African American women, who face the highest rates of cancer, diabetes, heart disease and stress.
“We want to raise awareness and support for effective disease prevention strategies that African American women in Detroit can learn and use for themselves,” according to a Links spokesperson.
Administered by the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, the program provides breast screening, follow-up and treatment at no cost to uninsured women between the ages of 40 and 64 living in the Detroit metropolitan region. Since its inception, the program has provided nearly 60,000 free screenings and potentially curative breast cancer treatment to nearly 700 women.
Unfortunately, every year, the need for screenings exceeds the amount of funding provided by the State of Michigan. Additional support is needed from the community. This year, the Greater Wayne County Chapter of the Links, Inc. has committed to raising funds to meet this need through its signature event, the Pink Ball. For every $300 raised, another woman in need will get access to life-saving screenings.
2012 Pink Ball honorees are George N’Namdi, founder of the N’Namdi Center for Contemporary Art; Delores Bennett, founder of the Adopt-A-Child Christmas event; the Detroit Venture Partners and Peter Karmanos, president of Compuware Corporation. They will be honored for their work as change agents in making Detroit a better community.
The Pink Ball will be held on May 5 in the General Motors’ Wintergarden, inside the south entrance of the Renaissance Center in Detroit, cocktail reception is from 7 to 8 p.m. followed by dinner and dancing in the Ambassador Ballroom at 8 p.m. Tickets are $150 and can be purchased by contacting Gina Coleman at (248) 720-8668 or by e-mail at g921@aol.com.
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