For sports enthusiasts like us, the month of October is nothing short of epic when viewing the amount of sports being played on national television. Currently, one can watch the MLB World Series, NCAA College Football, NBA Pre-Season, and of course the NFL. What also comes with the various sports being played in this month of October is something much bigger than any game or score; which is the awareness of Breast Cancer.
One of the biggest American Cancer Society sponsors is the NFL. And as a result, the month of October (Breast Cancer Awareness month) is the pinnacle of media coverage for the NFL to help promote this great cause. When one watches any football game this month, it’s easy to see coaching staffs, athletes, cheerleaders, and fans rocking their latest pink gear. However, have you ever actually observed just how much of these Breast Cancer awareness proceeds go to Breast Cancer research?
According to the Washington Post, only 12.5% of the NFL’s products (branded pink) actually go to Breast Cancer research. This means if one were to purchase an NFL “pink” jersey, gloves, and cap totaling out to $100; roughly only $13 will actually go to the betterment of fighting Breast Cancer. In fact, Washington Post also states that not every item for sale, containing a pink ribbon, necessarily means proceeds go to Breast Cancer research. Unfortunately, what we are seeing in America is a society that is a lot of “talk, but no bite”. It’s easy to stand behind a cause when it’s lucrative, however, it’s not fair to the people that don’t understand where/how their money is being spent. Moreover, for major corporations such as the NFL, donating to the American Cancer Society is not only a way to increase revenue, but it also is a way to write off taxes.
What do you think about this situation and/or similar corporations that use national awareness causes to increase one’s revenue and reputation?
Product Of Society 