Pink Ribbon Society

09/29/2022

We're counting on all our family, friends and supporters to Round Up during the Check Out Challenge from October 3 to October 9 at all of the Strack & Van Til and Town & Country Stores in our community. We need your help to continue supporting the men and women of Lake, Porter, Jasper and Newton Counties in Northwest Indiana. Thank you.

Pink Ribbon Society, Inc.

09/27/2022

Pink Ribbon Society proudly presents...
JEANNETTE JENNINGS
Ms. October – 2022

“From every caterpillar a beautiful butterfly will appear when you don’t even realize it.”

Jeannette Jennings resides in Highland, Indiana. She enjoys spending time with her son Jonathon, daughter-in-law Summer, grandson Skyler and Terry Jennings.
Six months prior to her own breast cancer diagnosis, Jeannette received the news that her son was in renal failure and needed a kidney. Fortunately, she was the best match to enable a successful transplant. She faced the situation with courage and determination and she and her son are now both healthy. In her own words, “Life is beautiful – what more can you ask for.”
An involved lifestyle keeps Jeannette extremely busy. For the past 40 years, she has been a hair stylist, and is currently the owner of His & Hers Hair Salon in Griffith, Indiana. She is affiliated with the National Cancer Society, Community Care Cancer Research Foundation, St. Baldrick’s Foundation, the American Legion Auxiliary, NW Indiana Girls on the Run, Griffith High School Best Buddies Program and other assorted fundraising foundations.
When asked what advice she would give to others facing a cancer journey, she shares that “cancer is not a death sentence. You just need to stay positive and always move forward.”

09/26/2022

Published on the NWI Times page......

We stand with our breast cancer warriors

They're our mothers, sisters, daughters, grandmothers, aunts and cousins.
They're our close friends, neighbors and coworkers.
They all have a voice, and we want you to hear it in their words.
Today, in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we open pages of our Sunday Forum section to the voices of breast cancer warriors and survivors who live among us in Northwest Indiana.
What we all can draw from those voices is nothing short of profound.
Brave women, who are fighting or have struggled with this disease, are among us everywhere.
They tell us of their fights and that the miracle of modern medicine means a breast cancer diagnosis is no longer a likely death sentence.
They honor the family caregivers who stood with them, side by side, through harrowing bouts of radiation, chemotherapy and the natural fear and uncertainty.
Sharon Ross, The Times regional news editor and a beloved employee, is one of those voices you hear from today on the Forum cover.
Sharon is a survivor of breast cancer, having beaten a 2007 diagnosis into the submission of remission.
Our hearts broke for her earlier this month when an annual checkup at Mayo Clinic revealed cancer had returned.
But Sharon's heart is anything but broken. The words in her column — "I’ve got this" — echo from so many brave breast cancer warriors and survivors throughout our Region.
Sharon is the epitome of bravery, and we know she does "got this."
Today is a day for their voices, not ours, to tell these epic stories of human struggle and survival.
Please join us in standing with them.

09/26/2022

08/31/2022

Pink Ribbon Society proudly presents...
GRACE HUGHES
Ms. September – 2022

“Stay positive, pray and have faith that with God all things are possible. Never give up.”

Grace originally hails from Chicago, Illinois, but now resides in Gary, Indiana. She is the mother of 3 – Derrick Martin, Fawn Martin and Frances Farris, and grandmother of 2 – T’re Martin and Daniel Thomas.

Although she is now retired, Grace has been employed in a variety of positions - as a secretary for a paint company, a manager of Ruth Bar and Grill in Chicago and even a spot welder for Ford Motor Company.

When asked about her greatest accomplishment since her diagnosis, Grace states that she is now “closer to (her) family and has stopped taking life for granted.” She enjoys gardening, stepping (a type of step dance), cooking, decorating for every holiday and celebrating all events with her family.

08/17/2022

For those of you in our area who purchase mastectomy products from Calumet Orthopedic/A Fitting Image, please be advised that they have permanently closed their doors.

If you are in need of bras and/or prosthesis, you can contact Isabella's Boutique, 58 W Lincolnway Valparaiso, IN 46383 - 219 - 462-2822 to make arrangements for a purchase or fitting. Be aware of the government requirements if you want Medicare to pick up the cost. You will need an Rx from your doctor and an evaluation by the Isabella's staff - this is a requirement for Medicare.

They also carry compression sleeves, mastectomy bathing suits and other breast cancer related products.

If you live closer to Illinois, you can shop for bras and prostheses at ABC Medical Services, Inc., 3601 Ridge Road, Lansing, IL - 708-418-0008. The owner at ABC is Deborah and is there to help you.

Fair Meadows Home Health Center in Griffith also sells these products, but their prosthesis are limited to the Jodee brand. They are at 1325 E. Main Street, Griffith, IN 46319 - 219 - 865 - 5960.

If you know your bra and prosthesis sizes and brands, you can order them on line. However, Medicare will not reimburse your purchase. In order to secure reimbursement, you must have an Rx from your doctor and available yourself to an evaluation from the bra fitter.

If your insurance covers these purchases, check your insurance coverage information.

08/09/2022

Pink Ribbon Society recently enjoyed a Site Visit from the Legacy Foundation. Site visits are designed to gather information that allows Legacy to perform its fiscal responsibilities to the Foundation and to those who make funds available through the grant process for distribution in the community.

We have received multiple grants from Legacy Foundation over the years to support our various programs, i.e. Mammography Program and Financial Patient Assistance Program.

Several members led by Kelly Anoe, Vice President of Legacy Foundation, and the Women's Philanthropy Group met at the Pink Ribbon offices with members of the Pink Ribbon Board including Chairman Of The Board Evelyn Thomas, Secretary Treasurer Maura Rowley, Member at Large, Rhonda McColly-Fleener and Pink Ribbon President, Ann Peters.

The meeting provided Pink Ribbon, not only an opportunity to welcome the group to the nerve center, but to share information about our programs, funding, concerns and issues facing not for profits in today's financial climate and more.

Pink Ribbon was able to express appreciation for the role of philanthropy and how it aligns with our financial needs as well as our strengths and weaknesses and hopes for our future relationship with the Legacy Foundation.

We appreciated the opportunity to share our concerns and receive suggestions that will allow us to continue providing programs and services to the many men and women in our community whose lives have been touched by breast cancer.

08/02/2022

We had a beautiful afternoon at the Gary Southshore Railcats game on Sunday, July 24th. The players wore their new awesome Breast Cancer Awareness Jerseys that were auctioned off after the game.
Thanks to Renee Connelly and the amazing Railcats Players, Pink Ribbon was able to meet with many of the fans and visitors during the game who stopped by our tables to say hello, buy pink ribbon items and 50/50 raffle tickets. The winner of the 50/50 walked away with over $ 500 in cash.

50/50 winner - Pictured with Pink Ribbon President, Ann Peters, is Leah Meyers. Leah was the lucky winner of $ 546.....

The American Cancer Society brought out the Big Pink Chair.

Pictured in the chair are committee members and volunteers, (left to right - standing) Bill Cain, Mike Rosta, Ruth Bilbro, Ann Peters, Savanna Cain and Jamie Miller (ACS)...(left to right seated) Kathie Dinga, Chris Cain, Fatima Shabaz, and Renee Connelly (Railcats).

Committee member Fatima Shabaz shown with Railcats Mascot, Rusty.

Folk lore has it that Rusty, was born in 2002 when the team announced its official name.

The lore tells that he grew up near the tracks in Gary and fell in love with baseball, catnip and hot dogs and remains today as a steadfast fan for the Railcats.

08/02/2022

Thank you to the family and friends of Pink Ribbon who supported the annual Pierogi Fest again this year working the beer garden...hot, noisy, big crowd, good food and lots of fun.

Left to right front row, Ann Peters, Debbie Peters, Fatima Shabaz and Susie Peters.....Back row, George Pate, Paul Peters, Bill Cain, Sue Pate and Evelyn Thomas.