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06.01.10 

Passion for Pink: Name That Rug! Contest

Here are the new Passion for Pink rug designs! We are hoping to unveil our newest product designs this September but need a little help with the product names. We’d like to give even more meaning to the products by naming the rugs after brave and courageous individuals whose lives have been affected by breast cancer. We’d love to hear your story. We’re looking for someone who took a stand against breast cancer and empowered others with their compassion, fiery dedication and unwavering commitment to the cause.

Our namesakes will receive one rug in each design and also have their story featured in our upcoming Spring 2011 catalog. Please submit your story by posting on our blog http://blog.companyc.com/ or facebook page, www.facebook.com/colorfulliving.

We will be accepting submissions through June 15, 2010.

To tell you a little more about the rugs, one of the designs features impressionist flowers full of color and character while the other rug incorporates five different shades of pink and features curlicues and circular medallions hooked in different densities to give the pattern textural depth. A spin-off of Company C’s best-selling Garland and Giverny rug designs, the passion for pink rugs are hand-hooked and made of 100 percent wool. Available for a limited time only, these rugs were specially designed to benefit breast cancer awareness and community outreach. Company C will donate twenty percent of the retail price of each rug sold to support breast cancer awareness, research and education.

Our entire organization felt very strongly about supporting this cause and what better to show our support than through the use of color and design! We hope our new designs will inspire colorful living for our customers and those affected by breast cancer.

Our Passion for Pink rugs will be available for sale to end consumers in September 2010. Both rugs will be available at more than 800 specialty retailers nationwide; at company-owned retail stores in Hingham, MA, Portland, ME and Concord, NH; and online at www.companyc.com. To find a dealer in the area or for additional information, visit www.companyc.com or call 800.818.8288.

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  • http://www.homeologyaz.com Ryan Pruett

    Susan Yellen- My mother-in-law was a great woman.She raised an amazing family of 3 kids with her husband Cliff. She was first diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer in 05/06 and in just a short year later lost her battle in April of 2007. My partner was trying to find a way to deal with his lose and give a tribute to his mom, and that's when we went to our first “getting started meeting” with the Breast Cancer 3 Day. In November of 2007 we walked our first 3Day (3 days and 60 miles) to raise awareness and funds to help stop this disease. Each participant must raise at least $2,300 in order to walk. It was a daunting task, both walking and raising money, but we did it. We have been doing it ever since, and will continue to walk until there is a cure. along the way we have met some great people, and the 3 Day has become like extended family. Since 2007 we have recruited other family members to walk with us on our team, Team Susan, which was named after Christopher's mom. This year Team Susan, that started with only two, will be walking in at least 2 different cities, and in San Diego Susan's husband Cliff will be joining us as a walker! The one story that Christopher tells so many woman while fund-raising and walking is how his mom only missed/skipped one mammogram. That's all it takes sometimes, just one missed. So for you new beautiful rugs I submit her name Susan Yellen. Thanks for having these, and for supporting such a worthy cause.
    Ryan

  • Jane Zaslaw

    My niece, Katie – 32 years old and the mother of two children ages 5 and 3 was given the horrible news four months ago that she had breast cancer and would need to undergo 6 chemo treatments and then a double mastectomy. My sister, a breast cancer survivor herself, has been her rock and major support system for these last few months. I see in my sister's face and hear in her voice, what a devastating ordeal this is. My sister worries for her daughter and agonizes over the future of her two grandchildren. My niece faces this battle head on – she shaved her head and posted her picture on facebook. She was looking cancer in the face and saying “I dare you to take me”!! I love her! I work for Company C. I am proud to do so. Everyone who is taking this journey deserves some recognition and so much more…. what is your story? Let's travel this path together.

  • Joelle Huot

    AUNTIE JANE~ Every summer my sister and I would spend a few weeks with my Aunt Jane, Uncle Danny and our cousins Tina and Mat on their farm in Maryland. Right away she would put us to work and show us the ropes on the farm. After a week on the farm she would drive a Winnebago carrying my sister,myself, Tina, Mat and our cousin Dawn, along with a dog or two to our family camp in Maine. Here she would take us on boat rides, downtown and one of my favorites shopping! As we grew older we did not spend as much time together but we would see each other for a few days every summer.

    While in college in the 1960's my Aunt had to have a biopsy on one of her breast, all test came back clear and she went on to earn her degree in Physical Education.

    30 plus years later my Auntie Jane was a Mother of 2,a Wife, a Teacher, and a High school boys Hockey Coach. When she found out she had Breast Cancer, after the panic she decided she had a fight ahead and she was not going die. In 1998 my Aunt had a mastectomy and has been Cancer free for over 10 years!!

    My Aunt Jane now makes fun handbags for the Cancer Center where my cousin Dawn works~ The bags are a free gift and a token of “keep your chin up you can beat this”

    Although she is no longer coaching hockey, she is still teaching, has seen both her children get married, is a grandmother of 3 and still drives to Maine every summer!

  • Desiree Nielsen

    Deedra-My sister

    She was just 32 when diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer. She was never married and never had children. She fought a very brave fight for 2 and 1/2 years. She never asked why me. Although I did a lot. She always said that if her illness brought one person closer to God then it was all worth it. She touched so many people with her positive outlook. She never even really missed work until the end. We miss her dearly. She died on May 5, 2001.

  • Kurt Nygaard

    In 2005 we learned that our friend had been diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast Cancer, a disease that we knew nothing about but felt we needed to do something to support our friend's battle. As we researched this particular form of breast cancer, we learned that there presently is no cure for this disease and that it affects generally young African American women but also strikes others. In searching the web, we discovered the Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation that had recently been formed to fund research & increase awareness of this deadly disease. This foundation was created by a number of amazing young women from the greater New York City area to find a way to honor their dear friend, Nancy Zellar Block who lost her battle to this disease at a very young age. To do our part, we started our 1st annual “Night 4 Pink” charity event to raise dollars to support research in better understanding the disease in hopes of finding a cure. Since October 2007, we have raised the most dollars outside of New York City for this charity, in excess of $125,000 to support our friend. Cindy and I have embarked this year to make even more of a difference in raising awareness about this disease by creating a holiday CD where 100% of the dollar sales of the CD will be donated to Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation along with hosting our 4th Annual “Night 4 Pink” charity event at our restaurant in Hudson, OH. We have partnered with our suppliers, friends, business associates & area companies to help us in reaching our goal this year of exceeding $75,000.Unfortunately, few know about this terrible disease and most that develop it, face a very challenging time period that lasts much too soon. Please help us by supporting this cause on behalf of our friend, Nancy Ochsenhirt. Through her positive outlook we have been truly blessed to be able to play such a small role in trying to increase the awareness of this disease in the greater Northeast Ohio area as well as raise funds to support research in finding a cure. It is our hope that one day, no woman or man will ever have to hear the words “you have triple negative breast cancer”. Until that time, we will continue our efforts to battle this disease.

    Kurt & Cindy Nygaard
    Owners Downtown 140 & Vignettes

  • http://www.lazboyoutdoor.com/ La-Z-Boy

    This sounds like a great Idea. I hope you find what you're looking for with these submissions. Thanks for sharing.

  • Karen List

    Karen's Warrior Rug!!
    A little over 10 years ago, as the world was awaiting the dawn of a new millenium, I was a 39 year old very busy mom to two school age boys. Hearing the words “you have breast cancer” didn't register, I just didn't have time to fit this into my life! And although Stage 2 invasive ductal carcinoma with positive lymph nodes was my diagnosis, Fight On became my battle cry! A mastectomy followed by months of chemo, losing my breast, my hair, but not my dignity, only made me fight harder!! During this time, I learned the true meaning of beauty, of friendship, of love, but mostly I learned what strength really means! I became a Warrior ! Fighting not just for me but for my fellow warriors! I became a breast health advocate and educator as part of my volunteer involvement in my community, I am committed to helping find a cure for this horrible disease. I am very involved in my local Susan G. Komen for the Cure affiliate and was honored in 2009 as their Warrior in Pink! I am very proud to have been selected as the chair for the 2011 Race for the Cure. I do what I do so that no one, no sister, no mother, no daughter, no friend will ever have to hear the words I heard that winter day! For my fellow Warriors everywhere, I can and do imagine a world without Breast Cancer!! Your new rug, with its strong lines, powerful graphic design and bold shades of pink remind me of the warrior within all of us!!
    Karen List (karelito@aol.com)

  • Pekka Paavonpera

    I would like to nominate Meredith Strang Burgess for the Passion for Pink Name the Rug contest.

    Meredith is the CEO of Burgess Advertising and Marketing, located in Portland Maine, and a Maine State Legislator

    On the personal side, in the fall of 1999, Meredith began a very public 18-month battle with breast cancer. Her story received coverage locally in publications including Mainebiz, Portland Magazine and the Portland Press Herald; and nationally in the October 2000 issue of McCall's magazine. She was also included in “Portraits of Courage, Voices of Hope”, a photographic essay of breast cancer survivors that debuted in Portland before being published as a book of the same name, the proceeds from which go to support the patient education and outreach programs of the Maine Cancer Foundation.

    With her treatment completed, she continues to be an outspoken advocate of early detection and cancer awareness by personalizing the face of cancer and is active in a number of different initiatives and events. She has been very active with the Maine Cancer Foundation, serving President of the Board of Directors from 2002 to 2007. In 2007 she received The Carroll Award for “ extraordinary efforts to advance the path to a cancer free future”.

    In 2002, Meredith founded the annual Cure Breast Cancer for ME Luncheon and other related events. To date, the events have raised over a million dollars for the Maine Women’s Cancer Fund, which is managed by the Maine Cancer Foundation and all the money stays 100% in Maine.

    In 2007 Meredith began a campaign to collect 2,000 reservations to support the creation of a Speciality License Plate to Support Breast Cancer Services in Maine. The campaign was successfully completed in December 2007. The new license plates were released in October 2008 and are helping raise awareness as well as much-needed funds for the Maine Breast and Cervical Health Program; Maine Breast Cancer Coalition; and the Maine Cancer Foundation. As of October 2009, over 10,000 pink plates are on cars all over Maine…and $100,000 has been raised and distributed to the organizations!

    Meredith is also a sponsor, supporter and competitor of Maine's Tri for a Cure fund raiser donating much of her time and that of her company to promote the event.

    She is an active promoter of healthy lifestyles as a way to prevent cancer and has initiated and encouraged many healthy activites/benefits in her business which promote a health work environment. These include reducing the businesses carbon footprint with the use of environmentally friendly products as much as possible: time off provisions for staff to take part in sport and other physical activities; company paid entries for staff participating in fun runs, tri-athlons etc; paid for gym memberships, and frequently held and company paid for healthy staff lunches such as Salad days etc.

    It is safe to say that in all aspects of her life Meredith is as advocate for cancer prevention and finding a cure for cancer.

  • Patricia Burkard-Williamson

    June 15th, 2010
    Dear Company C,

    I would like you to name your most beautiful “Breast Cancer Awareness” rug after my dear friend and inspiration, Cathy Youngling. Let me tell you a little bit about her.

    Cathy is a 15 year Breast Cancer survivor, a mentor to other survivors and a woman of courage and determination. At the time she found out she had Cancer she was the PTA president at my daughter’s school . We all knew the diagnosis was bad. They told Cathy they saw the cancer dividing in the microscope. She told me once that she felt like it was her duty to educate the school and community about Breast Cancer, and in her weekly newsletters she did just that. She boldly came to school, head bald, eyes sparkling in order to prove to people you can survive Breast Cancer. And she did.

    14 years later Cathy started a team to walk in the San Francsico 3-day for the cure to benefit Susan G Komen. She said there was just one too many friends who were still getting the diagnosis and something needed to be done. Cathy has never been someone who does things half way. I don’t think there was one person in Marin who didn’t know she was walking to end Cancer. I would see her as she would be out on her training walks with her “Cancer Sucks” tee shirt. She would stop in my shop and I would be amazed at the distances “literally and figuratively” she went to for this cause.
    Her blog she started chronicled her journey http://www.IsCathyThereYet.Blogspot.com.
    An entry of which was published in a national magazine http://iscathythereyet.blogspot.com/2009/06/som… . The blog continues today to inspire and touch thousands. She bravely chronicles her Cancer, her treatment and her survival giving us all hope and a belief that Cancer can be beaten.
    To help in the effort for the 3day to help her team raise the funds needed to walk along side her, Cathy and her team put on a charity event that raised over $9,000. By the time she finished she was the 4th top fundraisier in the SF walk . But to me, Cathy’s fundraising pales in comparison to the lessons she has taught. Her life is an example of never giving up, of pushing the boundaries and boldly speaking up. I am proud of all she has accomplished for this great cause and I ask that you select her to honored.
    Sincerely,
    Patricia Burkard-Williamson
    Featherbed & Bath
    Corte Madera, CA

  • Charise Perkett Glasson

    Dear Company C,

    My name is Charise Perkett Glasson, and I am a designer who embraces the many colorful products Company C offers. I always tell my clients that a Company C rug makes a statement. It awakens all your senses and evokes a sense of life. It leaves you with an ever-lasting impression upon entering a room and remains with you even after you have left.
    These characteristics also hold true when talking about an amazing woman I had the pleasure of meeting just one year ago. I initially only knew her online (via Twitter) as @stales. We finally met in person at a social function, and we both ended up recognizing each other from having seen each others Twitter photos. I would like to share with you her story, Alicia Staley, aka @stales in the world of Twitter. For the record, she has no idea I am writing this or even nominating her for this opportunity.

    Alicia lives, works and plays here in the Boston area and this is her story…

    She has had Hodgkin's disease once and Breast Cancer twice. She fought her way through cancer for the first time as a twenty year old college sophomore. To diagnose the Hodgkin's, she had every major organ in her abdominal region biopsied, a section of her hip removed, her spleen removed, and for good measure, she let the doctors take out her appendix too. To treat the Hodgkin’s, she had 18 weeks of radiation and 9 rounds of chemotherapy. The chemo regime had 4 drugs. She still has 21 little blue “tattoos” on her body that were used to mark the radiation field. She lost all her hair and lost quite a bit of weight. It took Alicia close to 3 years to battle through the Hodgkin’s.
    At the age of 33, she was diagnosed with breast cancer for the first time. She had one lumpectomy and 5 intense days of Mammosite Radiation. For two years, she dealt with horrific side effects from “the anti-cancer drug” Tamoxifen – dry eyes, night sweats, bone pain, weight gain, migraines, insomnia, fevers… Sometimes, the cure is worse than the disease. Last November, she was diagnosed with breast cancer for a second time and she opted for major surgery – a double mastectomy. She also had her thyroid removed during that surgery too. In total, she had 3 separate courses of radiation, 1 course of chemo, 8 major surgeries, and 1 bone marrow biopsy.
    To say that Alicia is a survivor would be an understatement. To learn what she has endured and overcome only shows one side of the amazing person Alicia Staley truly is. Her post-treatment dedication to helping others going through the same situations is what brings forth the second half of Alicia to reveal her true character in vivid color.
    In 2007, Alicia founded The Staley Foundation – a non-profit charitable organization dedicated to enriching the lives of people touched by cancer, including survivors, their families, and care-givers. It acts on the belief that cancer survivors need a strong fundamental base of education, advocacy, and assistance to persevere in their battle with cancer (and beyond) to live their lives to the fullest. The Staley Foundation fulfills its mission through a variety of programs that provide cancer awareness education, survivorship education, community outreach initiatives, advocacy development and patient assistance. Alicia has built an organization based on compassionate excellence, and it continues to empower cancer survivors to lead extraordinary lives.
    Alicia has been through quite a bit over the years, but against all odds she was able to overcome adversity and is still living life to the fullest – in COLOR! In return, her compassion and unwavering spirit empowers others to do he same. As Alicia will tell you, “She is walking proof that super glue and duct tape works wonders.”
    To most, comparing a person like Alicia to a Company C rug might seem absurd. To me, its plain as day. Both light up a room, are unique and full of color and leave a lasting impression long after you have left their presence. Alicia Staley is a remarkable woman who’s story truly represents what it means to have a “Passion for Pink.”

    Sincerely,

    Charise Perkett Glasson

  • Melissa Augustine

    Kristy's story: My best friend Kristy was handed the life changing diagnosis of breast cancer at the young age of 24. I was in medical school at the time and she was in law school. Prior to her diagnosis, we joked we would become a “dream team” when we graduated, one of us a doctor and one a lawyer. We both have an interest in helping the underserved and we dreamed of teaming up and tackling these issues head on.

    I vividly remember learning that Kristy had been diagnosed with breast cancer and my reaction of disbelief and then overwhelming sadness. However, despite my medical knowledge of her formidable diagnosis, I always knew Kristy would survive this challenge. After all, Kristy is experienced in the area of survival. Her mother passed away when she was a young girl, and she and her father learned to not only get by, but thrive as a father-daughter team.

    After her diagnosis and necessary leave of absence from law school, Kristy fought her way through chemo, radiation, and a mastectomy, never losing her hope and stubborn determination. She considered a change in career paths, but decided she was meant to be a lawyer. Her reentry into law school was not an easy one with travel to doctor's appointments interfering with class time. Despite her already overbooked life, she became involved in several breast cancer organizations and began attending fundraisers on a regular basis to encourage breast cancer education, research, and inspire hope for others. When I graduated from med school in 2008, I didn't think our “dream team” ambition would become a reality. However….

    Last month I had the privilege of attending Kristy's law school graduation. To us, her friends and family, we were not only commemorating an educational milestone, but celebrating Kristy's life and survival. She has now been cancer free for several years. I love Kristy as my sister and would be honored to have her uplifting spirit spread throughout the country in the form of a Company C rug. Thank you very much for your consideration.

  • Margaret

    I am honored to be a friend of Karen List, winner of the Karen's Warrior rug! My daughter and I,with other friends and her family, joined Karen in the South Florida Race for the Cure in 2009, and are looking forward to joining in on the 2011 race! Karen is a true warrior and a great support to all. We are all warriors, Karen's mighty warriors…..

  • http://pinkispowerful.com/donate-provide-mammograms-forwomen-in-need/ Breast Cancer Treatment

    Supporting a cause is creditable and compassionate. Several companies
    have already started their pink campaigns. Maybe one of these ideas can
    help get you started.