Downtown New Canaan has been decorated in pink, as a local awareness campaign gets underway for its third year to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month and raise funds for a good cause.
Conceived and launched by town resident Julie Stein, “Project Pink New Canaan” sees sponsored pink ribbons and tags with personal dedications affixed to lampposts throughout the downtown area.
We put some questions to Stein as the third annual Project Pink gets up and running.
Here’s our exchange.
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New Canaanite: What is Project Pink New Canaan?
Julie Stein: I launched in October 2023, as a breast cancer survivor and advocate for raising awareness and funding for early research towards a cure. Alongside Creative Director Jera Flood and with the support of the New Canaan Chamber of Commerce, Project Pink began to take shape.
Project Pink provides individuals with the opportunity to honor or remember loved ones affected by breast cancer while also raising awareness and funds for a cure through dedication tags.
For the third consecutive year, Project Pink’s beneficiary is the Breast Cancer Alliance, a nonprofit organization based in Greenwich. Their mission is to enhance survival rates and improve the quality of life for those impacted by breast cancer through better prevention, early detection, treatment, and the pursuit of a cure.
What has the community’s engagement and feedback been through the first two years of Project Pink here?
The community has wholeheartedly embraced Project Pink since its launch. With breast cancer statistics being staggering—affecting 1 in 8 women—it is difficult to find anyone who remains untouched by this disease. Whether it’s a friend, family member, or neighbor, breast cancer impacts us all. Project Pink is truly a community initiative! Numerous volunteers work behind the scenes to make Project Pink successful. New Canaan teens and parents from SLOBS (Service League of Boys) and NCL (National Charity League) help decorate lampposts with pink lights, bows, and personalized dedication tags. Local merchants are proud sponsors of Project Pink and consistently participate year after year. Many businesses also offer their services in various ways during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Over the past two years, Project Pink has raised over $30,000 for breast cancer research.
New Canaan is making a difference together to find a cure!
What is it about Project Pink that you think has made it successful so quickly?
Every time we engage with the community, we hear someone’s story. People want to share their experiences with breast cancer, whether they are personal journeys of survival or stories of loved ones who lost their battle with the disease. Regardless of how breast cancer has impacted someone, it fosters a deep connection with others who have faced similar challenges. There is an immediate sense of familiarity in the conversations and a willingness to share difficult experiences from our lives. We are honored to listen to these stories and to share their dedication tags with the community.
What should our readers know about how they can support this important cause?
The lampposts in downtown New Canaan will be decorated until October 12th. We invite the community to come out and enjoy the display. Although the decorations will come down on the 12th to get ready for Scarecrow Fest, we have more events planned for October. We are excited to partner with several local businesses to raise awareness about breast cancer. To learn more about us and our upcoming events, follow us on social media (@projectpinknewcanaan) and visit our website at projectpinknewcanaan.org.