The first ever virtual Pink Power Pajama Party was held on October 29, 2020, bringing approximately 350 people together via Zoom. The 4th annual event raised an incredible $118,000 for local breast cancer related causes.
The inaugural Girls Night Out in 2017 raised $40,000; the second in 2018 brought in $88,000, while last year reached a milestone of $100,000. Despite the impact of the pandemic, we are thrilled to have our most successful year to date with an astounding $118,000 totaling $346,000 raised over the past four years.
“We reached this remarkable total because of the generosity of our giving community and beyond. We are truly grateful,” stated Pink Power Founder Denise Gilliland. “This year in the midst of a pandemic we reimagined our Girls Night Out and hosted a one-of-a-kind online event and a three-day virtual auction. Technology enabled a larger reach, so we were able to invite people from across the United States and around the globe. We turned negative circumstances into a positive experience and an extremely successful outcome was the silver lining!
Ladies left their black dresses and heels in their closets and donned their favorite pink pjs. They assembled their friends – virtually or socially distanced at one location – and enjoyed a Girls Night “In” to support four amazing breast cancer causes. To add to the fun, prizes were awarded for the winners of the photo contest for the best pajamas, best selfie and best group photos, best decorations and best food display. The enthusiasm and creativity were evident in the photos posted on the Pink Power Facebook page during and after the event.
In a dynamic mix of live and prerecorded segments, the interactive festivities included a Pink Power Passion cocktail demonstration, prize drawings, patient testimonials and a celebratory survivor toast featuring 26 survivors. Jane Rice, a 30-year survivor, was our keynote speaker. Her powerful message was one of hope, faith, and giving back. The heart and soul of our program was our survivor videos, each highlighting personal reflections of their journeys. Five inspiring videos were shown during the event as survivors shared their personal stories, including 98-year-old Mr. Martin, who is a World War II Navy veteran, a Purple Heart recipient, and a 6-year breast cancer survivor.
In the words of one attendee, “Congratulations on a magnificent, inspiring and empowering event! I was so touched listening to the stories!” Although the format changed, our important mission and outstanding beneficiaries remained the same. Proceeds from the Pink Power Pajama Party benefit breast cancer patients in need at UPMC Pinnacle and Memorial Breast Care Centers; WellSpan York Cancer Center; Penn State Cancer Institute Genetics Program and Pink Ink Project.