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Gold Star FS has had a long tradition of supporting breast health. One way it does
so is by gifting its administrative employees with Isabel Bloom Race for the Cure sculptures on Administrative Professionals' Day. Shown above, with this year's
Generations sculpture, are l-r, front row: Kelly Grice, Elberta Raifsnider, Chelsey
Spivey; back row: Martha Jinks, Terry Allen, Lori Gustafson. Mammogram Party Saves a Life
When Joline Reppert worked for Henry Service Company - an agricultural cooperative that is now called Gold Star FS in Cambridge, Ill. - she and the other office workers would hold annual mammogram parties. They started doing it, she remembers, when they realized they all were making mammogram appointments around the same time every year. They thought, Let's go together and treat ourselves to dinner afterwards!
The party-goers' enthusiasm and commitment to their health was contagious: the company began donating to charities that support breast health. Then, on Administrative Professionals' Day, 2005, the company took their support a step further. It gifted each of their administrative assistants with an Isabel Bloom Race for the Cure piece.
Gold Star FS continues that tradition today.
"We had been giving the office women flowers, like most other companies," CEO Steve Swanstrom says. "But we decided to see if there was another gift that would be more meaningful and longer lasting. We polled the women to find out what they would prefer. They chose Isabel Bloom."
In keeping with their charitable giving, then, Gold Star FS chose Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure sculptures, because a portion of the proceeds of each sale would support the local chapter's efforts to provide education and early detection of breast cancer. This year's piece, Generations, recognizes the impact breast cancer can have throughout a family.
The Rest of the Story...
Did those mammogram parties end up actually discovering a cancer in any of the party-goers? In fact, one such party did. It was during the 1991 party - almost exactly 19 years ago - that Joline Reppert's breast cancer was found.
"I was diagnosed when I was 40 years old," Joline, pictured above with Vision of Hope, says. "I had 2 children at home. It was tough. I had a mastectomy and chemo. But I'm not complaining. I'm grateful to be alive!"
Joline says she loves the Bloom Race for the Cure pieces.
"They are wonderful sculptures," she says. "They remind you that you need to take care of your health. They are good for people who aren't survivors, too!
"I always tell people, Never take your health for granted. Be aware of the changes in your body. See a doctor."
Joline will be walking her talk on June 12 in the Quad Cities when she and her 12-year-old granddaughter join tens of thousands of other survivors and family members on the 21st annual Race for the Cure.
"I would urge other companies to support breast health the way Isabel Bloom and Goldstar FS do," she says. "Everyone has someone who has been affected by breast cancer. We can beat it if we work together." |
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