In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, staff and faculty of Ross Medical Education Center in Fort Wayne helped to bag groceries at local Kroger stores. Each year, Kroger chooses to honor victims, celebrate survivors, and raise money during its “Fight Cancer Day.” This year’s “Fight Cancer Day” was the 36th annual occurrence of this event. Over the last 35 years of the event, nearly $5 million has been raised and donated to various local cancer organizations.
As they do every year on this day, Kroger pledged 3% of all sales from 15 of its area stores to the American Cancer Society and Cancer Services of Northeast Indiana. That small percentage goes a long way, and Ross enjoyed helping make the day run smoothly, “We had the easy part – the stores donated 3% of all sales for the day to area cancer services agencies, and all we had to do was donate a couple of hours!” said Jessica Le, Assistant Director of Education. In fact, last year, the day-long event raised $64,933, and the company is hoping to exceed that amount this year. Because of hosting this event and many like it, Kroger has once again been named one of the most generous companies in America by Forbes magazine.
Many community volunteers came out to support the stores and help bag groceries to help accommodate the shoppers and increase the donations. The proceeds from the Fort Wayne store were also donated to the local Francine’s Friends. Francine’s Friends a local organization whose mission, according to their website, is: “To make early detection of breast cancer available to every woman in Fort Wayne and the surrounding counties.”
Ross staff and faculty were proud to be a part of such a worthwhile community event. Those from the campus enjoyed the opportunity to work alongside firefighters, business people, and police officers from their community that wanted to make a difference for victims of breast cancer in their area. Although this year was their first time participating, they look forward to joining the ranks of those that take part in this event annually says Karen Pictor, Campus Director, adding, “It was a fun way to contribute to such a worthy cause.”
To learn more about how you can support these organizations, visit their websites by clicking on their names: Francine’s Friends, American Cancer Society, Cancer Services of Northeast Indiana.