What is Colors of Promise?
Based in Lexington, Kentucky, Colors of Promise (CoP) is a a 501©3, community-driven outreach organization that spreads the message of breast cancer awareness and risk reduction specifically to women of color. Colors of Promise was founded in 2012 by a committed group of ambassadors dedicated to raising breast cancer awareness to women of color in the Bluegrass. Our focus is a movement designed to promote breast cancer awareness and education among socially disadvantaged and low-income residents living and/or working in communities in the Bluegrass area, reaching nine counties. Colors of Promise aims to educate and empower women of color to take ownership of their own health while providing support if a cancer diagnosis is determined. This entails encouraging mammography screening and providing referrals for medicine, transportation to treatment, wigs, bras, and prosthesis. Through these events, we were able to reach 28,686 people in 2016.
Pink the Pews
Pink the Pews is the largest annual educational outreach event executed by Colors of Promise. Since 2012, Pink the Pews has grown from an initial target community in Fayette County to eight surrounding counties within the Commonwealth: Mercer, Anderson, Montgomery, Woodford, Scott, Franklin, Clark, and Boyle. In 2017, we reached over 10,000 people in one day. This included the distribution of educational materials and referrals for mammograms in partnerships with direct service nonprofits to help in the continuum of care for our counties. In 2018, we reached over 10,000 women within 43 churches in those surrounding counties.
Why Women of Color?
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women of color. Early detection and effective treatment for breast cancer have been shown to improve survival.
- 5 women of color die each day from breast cancer.
- Breast cancer mortality rates are 42% higher in women of color than any other race.
- 1 in 8 women will affected by breast cancer in their lifetime.