Arbella Insurance Group employees teamed up with the Arbella Insurance Foundation for a fundraiser to benefit Dana-Farber’s Community Benefits Program
October 22 marked the 12th annual Pink Day in which Arbella Insurance Group (Arbella) employees joined forces with the Arbella Insurance Foundation to raise funds for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. During the event, employees both virtually and in-person, worked together to raise $20,792 in support of cancer screenings and education for medically underserved populations. The Arbella Insurance Foundation matched this contribution for a total donation of $41,584.
“Due to COVID-19, this year’s event was a bit different, but employee generosity was the same. Some of our employees participated in person at our work place, while others joined in remotely. It was refreshing to see the same level of excitement and support from our employees. They really rallied around this important cause that impacts so many across our New England communities,” said John Donohue, chairman, president, and CEO of the Arbella Insurance Group and chairman and president of the Arbella Insurance Foundation. “Our team is always so proud to support Dana-Farber and they once again really rose to the challenge in the new hybrid version of our Pink Day event.”
This year, Melany Duval, senior vice president and chief philanthropy officer at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund, joined the event to share how Dana-Farber is helping patients through their cancer journey. During the virtual fundraiser, Arbella employees dressed in pink, purchased pink masks, lanyards and wine tumblers, the proceeds of which were all donated to Dana-Farber. Each company department created baskets made with employee donations and raffled them for additional fundraising. All employee contributions will support cancer screening through Dana Farber’s Community Benefits Program which includes the Mammography Van. To date, Arbella’s Pink Day has raised more than $403,256 for cancer awareness and screening.
Founded in 2009, Pink Day was created by former Arbella employee Dot Olson after she was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent treatment at Dana-Farber. Her experience inspired her to create Pink Day, and since its inception the event has been instrumental in furthering Dana-Farber’s mission to garner continued support for cancer awareness and research. Now retired, Olson still attends the annual Pink Day celebration, which is now coordinated by the Arbella Activities Committee (AAC), a group of employees committed to promoting a culture of teamwork and camaraderie through corporate citizenship and fun.
“While this year looked different from years prior, it was still wonderful to see the great support the Arbella team provides to Dana-Farber,” said Duval. “Their employee contributions allow us to fund so many important initiatives at the Institute that help our patients and their families.”
As the only mobile mammography program in Massachusetts, Dana-Farber’s Mammography Van provides free mammograms and breast health education to medically-eligible women aged 40 years and older. The Mammography Van partners with community-based organizations and neighborhood health centers in its mission to decrease breast cancer morbidity and mortality among medically-underserved women and increase survival rates for those diagnosed with breast cancer During the last fiscal year, the mammography program served approximately 1,200 individuals.
