Penske to the Rescue!

By Tammy L Adams

Angels in Yellow

For Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation, the gallant prince upon a white steed actually rides in a bright yellow truck! Once again, Penske Truck Rental has come to Making Memories rescue. 

On October 4, 2007, Good Morning America featured a segment spotlighting Brides Magazine's Something Pink charity event, a benefit for Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation. The focus of the story was how Making Memories transforms the donations of new and gently worn wedding gowns, into final wishes for women and men who are battling against breast cancer.  To both the surprise and delight of the Foundation, this national exposure sparked a sudden burst of contributions from gown manufacturers, bridal shops, and hundreds of individuals from the New York area. However, this compassionate outpouring far surpassed the organizations ability to transport the generous gifts back to the home base. Since the gowns were in New York and the warehouse was in Portland, Oregon, the cost of shipping these treasures would far surpass the funds needed to grant one last dream for someone waiting on the wish list.

Making Memories co-founders, Wish Director Anna Orr and National Director Fran Hansen, struggled with the realization that sending the gowns across country might prevent the fulfillment of someone's last wish.  Yet, in order to continue to grant wishes, they needed a way home for the precious gifts that Brides Magazine worked so hard to procure.

Rescuing the Damsel in Distress

Upon hearing of the Foundation's dilemma, the management at Penske graciously offered to provide a 26' truck at no charge, with which the organization could transport the greatest majority of the donated gowns back to the warehouse in Oregon.

Once before Penske had stretched out their hand of compassion to Making Memories, by providing a way home for thousands of gowns following a tragedy that struck the Portland based charity last fall. 

Almost one year prior on November 5, 2006, Fran Hansen Co-Founder of MMBCF was en-route from Washington D.C. to Hollywood CA for a year-end fund-raising event, when the organizations 2006 Ford F-350 and 40-foot Pace American 5th wheel, loaded with over 2000 wedding gowns, vanished from a Scottsdale AZ hotel parking lot.

The incident, which began by leaving the Foundation in a state of despair, soon became a whirlwind of blessings, as compassionate individuals and companies worldwide, showered Making Memories with donations.  The total number of contributed gowns replaced their losses more than twofold, allowing the charity to fulfill the 21 awaiting Christmas wishes.

Penske donated two 16-foot trucks from Scottsdale for retrieving those thousands of wedding gowns and through that act of kindness, a mere five days later the Hyatt West Hollywood wish granting event opened its doors at 10:00 a.m. sharp, to a record number of anxious brides, in-search of that perfect gown!

Penske has come through again. This time the generous truck donation will ensure Making Memories can fulfill all the wishes waiting on their list.

Brides Make Wishes Come True!

From its inception, the organization's "Brides Against Breast Cancer" division has traveled the country hosting wedding gown sales, which raise funds to grant wishes for individuals suffering with Stage IV breast cancer. 

Brides Against Breast Cancer helps new brides find their dream gown, at an incredible price, while helping to make dreams come true for families who have little time left for special moments together.

Ways you can help.

Not a bride?

Making Memories is always in need of volunteers for these events.  According to National Director Fran Hansen, volunteers are "the back bone of the organization." To volunteer at a Brides Against Breast Cancer event near you visit the website at - www.bridesagainstbreastcancer.org.

No event near you?

Making Memories has created a way, through the Pink Envelope Project, for everyone to help make wishes come true. 

Wishes Come True in Pink

Help Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation fulfill its mission to, grant wishes, including memory-making events, for metastatic breast cancer patients, while continuing to support, educate and increase resource awareness.

The design of the Pink Envelope Project is to bring together a community of people with one common goal—to reach-out beyond themselves and make a difference in the lives of others.

What is a Pink Envelope Project?

When you host an event or party with your closest friends, co-workers or organization, you are helping to grant wishes for terminally ill men and women with breast cancer. A Pink Envelope Party theme can encompass anything from a sporting event, girl’s night out, card game, recipe club, quilting bee, and dinner/dessert party to whatever your imagination can evoke.

Show your employer ways his or her business can sponsor events to help raise wish-granting funds, for individuals for whom a cure is too late. Companies and corporations are hosting charity gala's, public or celebrity golf tournaments, web-a-thons, employee casual Friday - dress down - corporate color change events, live or online auctions and retail "Granting Wishes - Touching Lives with Small Change" days.

Become part of the Making Memories family today!   Visit the websites to learn how - www.pinkenvelopeproject.org and www.makingmemories.org.