Jewelers and designers dedicated to raising funds for breast cancer research and boosting awareness of the importance of early detection have been highlighting National Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October through new designs, social media, and fundraising efforts.
According to the World Health Organization, in 2020, 2.3 million women were diagnosed with breast cancer, and 685,000 women died from the disease worldwide. As of the end of that year, it was the world’s most prevalent cancer, with 7.8 million women alive who had been diagnosed with the disease during the past five years. An estimated 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer over the course of their lifetime, and 281,550 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States this year, according to President Biden’s proclamation on National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Organizations that raise funds for research and breast cancer prevention are hoping that women will seek screenings for this common disease. Before the pandemic, nearly half of women in the United States put off preventative health services due to cost, and the coronavirus pandemic has only made the situation worse, according to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.
For the past 13 years, American luxury jeweler David Yurman has partnered with the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) to raise awareness about the disease. This year, the brand is introducing the David Yurman Award for breast cancer research, in the amount of $250,000.
The 2021 award recipient is Dr. Hayley McDaid, a New York–based scientist whose current research focuses on identifying new therapeutic options for triple-negative and BRCA-driven breast cancers.
The brand is further amplifying its partnership with BCRF this year on its social media channels, with a spotlight on some well-known women who have been impacted by breast cancer: Good Morning America host Robin Roberts, actor Miranda McKeon, and beauty editor Paige Stables.
Since David Yurman first partnered with BCRF in 2008, it has dedicated proceeds from a limited-edition assortment of pink jewelry to the charity each year. This year, David Yurman is adding to this assortment two new styles, including a 10 mm Renaissance Cable Bracelet in aluminum and pink acrylic and a narrower Cable bracelet in pink rubber.
David Yurman is donating 20% of sales from its ribbon motif pieces as well as 100% of net profits from its pink rubber Cable bracelets to BCRF on an ongoing basis year-round. For the month of October, the brand will also donate to the organization 20% of the purchase price from a wider BCRF assortment sold at David Yurman retail locations in the United States and Canada as well on davidyurman.com.
Other jewelry brands highlighting breast cancer awareness include Alex and Ani, which sponsors Living Beyond Breast Cancer, and Lori Friedman, who will be donating 15% of proceeds from the sale of her Celebration of Life pendant to Pink Aid through October 31.
Charles & Colvard is another example of jewelers joining the fight against Breast Cancer. It is working with customers “to shop for a cause” throughout the month of October with the launch of its 14k Rose Gold 2 1/4 ct. Caydia (lab-grown diamond) bangle. Throughout October, Charles & Colvard donating 15% of net proceeds from this bangle to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation to aid in cancer research.
Heymaeve founder Alicia Sandve is contributing to breast cancer awareness campaigns through her jewelry as well as via an everyday business model that makes a contribution to the charity of the customer’s choice with each purchase.
Sandve says her jewelry company’s mission is to use her business platform to “touch lives, empower women through our community, and give back to causes dear to my heart.” In October, that includes wearing pink, a color that highlights the efforts of organizations to encourage breast cancer screening, donations to research, and more.
“Raising funds for social causes is probably the easiest way to contribute to organizations around the world from the comfort of our own homes,” Sandve says. “Through our platform, our customers are able to give back to society simply by going shopping, and at no additional cost to them. Over time, we hope to influence our community of shoppers to also give back in their own ways.”
It’s truly a lifelong mission, Sandve says.
“Growing up in Southeast Asia, I’ve seen firsthand how poverty-stricken many places are until this day. So it’s always been a life motto of mine to do the right thing if and when I had the capacity to. My business gives me that capacity and platform to help,” Sandve says. “Giving back through my business makes it purposeful, and gives me the drive every day to do better, so that I can give back more.”
Top: David Yurman will donate 100% of the net profits from every pink rubber bracelet sold to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation’s efforts to advance the world’s most promising cancer research. (Photo courtesy of David Yurman)
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