Tennessee Town awash in pink to show support for patients

If you are visiting Chattanooga, Tennessee, in January be prepared to see pink.

The city has declared the week leading up to Memorial Health Care System Foundation’s annual breast cancer gala fundraiser as Color Chattanooga Pink! Week — a way for the community to visually show its support for breast cancer prevention, detection and treatment.

On Friday, January 13, 2023, Chattanooga Deputy Director of the Office of Community Health and Safety Dr. Geeta Maharaj presented a proclamation for the event. This has become an annual tradition since it was first enacted six years ago as a way for those who could not attend the gala to still support the cancer center and its patients, families and staff.

“This was a wonderful opportunity for the Chattanooga community to be creative and show support for the MaryEllen Locher Breast Center,” said Jennifer Nicely, foundation President and Chief Development Officer. “The response was inspiring with a multitude of businesses and individuals participating. Buildings were awash in pink, employees were encouraged to wear pink, retailers highlighted their pink merchandise, schools had ‘pink out’ basketball games, and much more.”

For the past 18 years the Pink! gala has been held in Chattanooga to raise funds to support the nationally recognized MaryEllen Locher Breast Center.

Jennifer added that Color Chattanooga Pink! week has become a community-wide movement focused on education and encouraging individuals to take care of themselves through screening efforts. As part of the event, the hospital’s two mobile mammography buses — both completely funded through philanthropy — are open to the public for screenings all week. The mobile units tout "No Insurance, No Problem," accessing state programs, grants through the foundation, and relationships with specialists to ensure everyone has access to screening and any follow-up care needed.

Businesses, restaurants, retailers, schools and individuals all participate in various related activities.

For the past 18 years the Pink! gala has been held in Chattanooga to raise funds to support the nationally recognized MaryEllen Locher Breast Center. Generous philanthropic support from the community has ensured that top-notch breast cancer detection and treatment capabilities are available close to home for people in and around Chattanooga. Last year, more than 30,000 patients were served by the center, regardless of their ability to pay.

Pink! 2023 was Memorial Foundation’s 18th annual gala and raised a net cash total of $432,800. The generosity of the sold-out crowd of 1,100 guests helped bring the total amount raised during 18 years of this annual fundraising gala to more than $5.6 million.

Pink! proceeds will add enhanced lymphedema treatment care to the Chattanooga community. Over the past few years, funds raised through Pink! have expanded access to mammography throughout the region, helped purchase the latest in equipment and provided care to uninsured patients or those struggling to afford care. Funds will also be used to provide scholarships for children who have a parent with breast cancer and add to the MaryEllen Locher Breast Center endowment.