National Breast Cancer Awareness Month( Shopping for Pink: Does your Octobe...),Health

Shopping for Pink: Does your October purchase really make a difference?

CHICAGO, Oct. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- As stores fill with pink products to benefit the breast cancer cause, Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization(TM) is providing tips to shoppers so they can make meaningful consumer choices to ensure that their money really makes a difference.

"There are a few steps consumers can take to become informed about 'pink' promotions so they know how a contribution will truly help those affected by breast cancer," says Margaret C. Kirk, CEO of Y-ME(R):

1. Know where your money is going! If a label only says "a portion of

sales goes to support breast cancer" you may want to be wary. "A

portion" could be $5 or less than $ .01. Look for labels that

disclose how much of the purchase price is being contributed, to which

organization it is going, and for what purpose.

2. Believe in the organization's mission. Y-ME's mission is to ensure,

through information, empowerment and peer support, that no one faces

breast cancer alone. Y-ME does not raise money for research; the

organization is here today to help those who can't wait for tomorrow's

cure.

3. Learn about the organization's finances. Y-ME's financial documents

such as annual reports and the 990 form are at http://www.y-me.org in

the "About Y-ME" section.

4. Find out what others say about the organization's integrity. Charity

Navigator has awarded Y-ME its highest 4-star rating for sound fiscal

management two years in a row. Visit http://www.charitynavigator.org

to see how the charity you're interested in is doing.

Funds raised through retail programs support vital Y-ME programs and services including Y-ME's Hotline, the country's onl
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