P is for Personal

It's officially breast cancer awareness month and, as I'm sure you've already seen, PINK is making its annual appearance all over the country. On cereal boxes, NFL uniforms, TV ads and the list goes on and on. So here's a question: where is it making an appearance in your life?

This year, in an effort to personalize PINK, P.I.A.P. is bringing back the original style Pink Party...just a group of our closest friends sharing our personal experiences with breast cancer and our thoughts on what we can do to prevent it. This month, members of the P.I.A.P. family from all over the country will host their very own Pink Party. Some will be having the event in their home while others will have it at a local restaurant. While their parties will be different, all of us will share in the same goal of raising awareness to the young women of color affected by this disease.

And now, for the moment you've all been waiting for...How can you take part in the fun? You guessed it...

THROW A PARTY!

In the days ahead, please visit our upcoming events page for useful tips, flyers, decor ideas and other updates on how to host your very own Pink Party. (Trust us, it's easier than planning your child's birthday pizza party.). Best of all, when you're done, share your experience and pictures with the world! As an added incentive, we'll be giving out prizes for the most unique party ideas, no matter how big or small.

So, are you willing to take the P.I.A.P. pledge?

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Make it a spaghetti dinner night!

Good Afternoon All!

On this the birth day of our dear Kimmie, and especially in honor of her culinary prowess, we invite you to join us in cooking spaghetti for dinner tonight! It was both one of Kim's favorite dishes to make and serve - a family treat that we enjoy to this day. So dust off that huge-mongous (yes, hugemongous) saucepan, take a trip to the grocery store if need be, pull out that apron, and get to cookin'!

Spaghetti a-la-Kim

Serves 6-8 (w/leftovers for lunch)

Ingredients

2-3 large cans or bottles of peeled tomatoes (w/juice) (this depends on how soupy you like your sauce)
1 lb. spicy italian sausage (sub. turkey sausage if you don't eat red meat)
1 lb. ground turkey or chuck
1 pack of kielbasa (turkey or pork)
2 packages of regular, multi-grain, or whole wheat spaghetti
2-3 mixed peppers, for color and flavor (red, orange, yellow or green) - chopped
2 jalapenos - chopped
1 chile pepper (green) - chopped
2 yellow onions (sub. red or scallions if yellow are too strong) - chopped
2 cloves of garlic - chopped
2 tbsp. of evoo
1 tsp. butter
1 tsp. grape jelly (sub. sugar if you don't have)
3 tbsp. fresh basil - chopped
2 tbsp. sea or kosher salt
2 tbsp. red/pepper flakes (you can use some of the seeds from the peppers, adds lots of kick ;-)
2 tbsp. ground pepper
2 tbsp. hot pepper sauce (optional)
parmesan, pepperjack or extra sharp cheddar cheese (optional)

Directions

Follow directions on package to cook spaghetti. Strain and store (add splash of evoo to prevent pasta from sticking).

In a large saucepan, heat the butter and oil on high until hot. Add garlic and onions, and cook for about 4 minutes or until onions begin to become opaque (do not cook all the way through). Add about 3/4 of the chopped bell, jalapeno and chili peppers to pan - cook for about 3 more minutes while stirring consistently. (Save the remaining peppers for serving - adds flavor and color!).   

Turn down the heat to medium-high, and one at a time, add in meats, making sure that they are well mixed and browning. As soon as all of the meats are in the saucepan, add pepper, salt, pepper flakes, jelly and pepper sauce (if you'd like). Turn down the heat to medium. Add in peeled and chopped tomatoes (w/juice). Stirring consistently, combine and cook for about 20-30 minutes or until all ingredients (especially meat) are cooked through. Add in remaining peppers and basil and stir. Simmer for about 3-5 more minutes.

Serve over spaghetti with shaved or shredded cheese. Is the perfect comfort-food dinner with Texas toast (garlic was Kim's favorite) and corn on the cobb or green beans.

ENJOY!

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A Painful Reminder

Today the world received a painful reminder that the reality of breast cancer isn't always consistent with the shimmering glamour of its awareness ribbon. As we mourn the loss of Elizabeth Edwards, we pray not only for her family and friends, but for the family and friends of those who have lost loved ones outside the media spotlight. And for those currently enduring this battle...DO NOT GIVE UP. DO NOT GIVE IN. We're fighting for and with you today, and always.

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Pink Party 2010

Another success! Thank you to all who came out and supported our Third Annual Pink Party this past Saturday at Eastern Market in DC! We're also eternally grateful for those of you who supported by buying raffle tickets, making general donations, or otherwise offering your support for our efforts. Again - thank you thank you!

This year's Pink Party featured a number of free (our favorite price) fitness/exercise classes: Zumba, Yoga and Tai Chi.

Aziza Wellness demonstrated how to make a yummy & healthy kale salad (we love two-for-ones too).

Our raffle winners were pretty darn excited about their prizes, and who wouldn't be? We sold a bunch of tickets at the Party, and one young passerby won the AMEX $150 giftcard. Talk about a big win!

We were visited by our corporate sponsor, CVS Pharmacy, and their generous donations and support, in addition to other Breast Cancer Organizations in the DC Metro Area. We'd like to send a special thank you to F.O.R.C.E. (Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered) for their continued support of P.I.A.P. and our mission to educate - early.

While the Pink Party is a celebration, an interactive and lively health and wellness fair geared toward the whole family, it happens alongside a rather sobering statistic: women of color are 34% more likely to lose their life to breast cancer than their caucasion counterparts. That puts our collective efforts into sharp perspective: this work is needed. So yes, ladies and gentlemen, we WILL be back next year, and we hope to see our extended family grow tenfold (footfall stadium status)!

Can't wait until next October to be a part of the P.I.A.P. action? No need, we have another big upcoming events for your pleasure:

Family Support Day
April 2011

We will keep at this until we are no longer needed. Until then, we fight.



Toward a cure...


P.I.A.P.

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Tomorrow's the BIG day!

You don't want to miss our Signature event. A brilliant combination of vendors, performers and healthcare providers will raise awareness about the impact of breast cancer on young women of color. Got questions about your breast health? We've got answers.

Join us at Eastern Market North Hall (225 7th St SE) between 10Am and 3PM for this annual signature event. Express yourself through song, pictures, poetry and more, all while improving your breast health awareness.

We'll see you there!

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Win an Apple iPad!

Help us fundraise for our Pink Party Health & Wellness Fair on October 9th by purchasing raffle tickets for an Apple iPad and other great prizes! Tickets are selling fast so get yours today!

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Share your Gift!

Got a gift? Share it with the community at this year's Pink Party & Community Health Fair. In an effort to explore culturally unique ways of raising breast health awareness, PIAP is looking for talented members of the community to perform during this year's Pink Party. The event will take place on October 9, 2010 in D.C.'s renowned Eastern Market. Since the event is free and open to the public, it will be a great opportunity to both introduce your talent to the community and raise awareness about this fatal disease.

Interested? Contact us at talent@pinkisntalwayspretty.org.

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