Army of Pink marches against breast cancer
The Army of Pink has marched into Glendale and occupied the Alex Theatre. On Oct. 6, seven men who are helping raise funds for breast-cancer awareness campaigned for votes as they walked the pink carpet and posed for photos surrounded by banners and pink balloons. Their captain is Laura Friedman, Glendale City Council member and breast-cancer survivor. She will be leading the army of seven Glendale movers and shakers to spread the message about resources in Glendale to diagnose, treat and support people living with breast cancer.
The brains behind the operation is the leadership at Glendale Adventist Medical Center, who recruited Friedman and the 2010 Army of Pink candidates. They are Glendale Adventist Cancer Services Medical Director Boris Bagdasarian, Glendale Police Chief Ron De Pompa, Glendale Mayor Ara Najarian, Glendale Fire Chief Harold Scoggins, Glendale Community College Board President Tony Tartaglia, Glendale Adventist HEALTHline host Gregory Zarian and former Glendale Mayor Larry Zarian.
Until Oct. 26, Glendale Adventist is asking the community to visit GlendaleAdventist.com/ArmyofPink on-line to vote for which “soldier” in Friedman’s Army of Pink looks best in pink. Each voter may vote up to 10 times. The winner will have his name on display in the Outpatient Cancer Center lobby for one year. In exchange, Glendale Adventist will donate $1 for every vote cast (up to 10,000 votes) to support the 2010 Glendale Relay for Life event.
Among live music and Carousel Restaurant appetizers, 150 supporters mingled and mulled over who would get their vote. They were welcomed by Glendale Adventist CEO Morre Dean.
“We had no idea everyone [the seven men] would be so supportive,” Dean said.
Remember to vote early—and vote often.
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The distaff side of the Army of Pink campaign showed up at Nordstrom in the Glendale Galleria on Thursday. Katrina Dean brought 10 of her friends to shop and sup on behalf of the Guild at Glendale Adventist Medical Center. Katrina is the wife of Glendale Adventist CEO Morre Dean.
Each $75 ticket purchase allows two wigs to be purchased for chemotherapy patients or one free hour of psycho-social support for a cancer patient or one low-cost digital mammogram for a woman in need. The guild allocates the proceeds according to need.
While supporters shopped, beverages, hors d’oeuvres and miniature sweets were passed on silver trays by the attentive wait staff. Models showed off the latest in fashion. Drawings for Nordie’s merchandise were held. The drawing for a Coach purse was especially popular with shoppers—winner need not be present.
Guild supporters happy to part with their money for a good cause included new Glendale resident and model Rosie Tisch, Montrose resident Virna Chan and Sun Valley resident Deedee Pardo. La Crescenta resident Debra McCubbin availed herself of a mini-make over at the cosmetics counter. Daughter Chelsie Van Noordt, 15, approved.
On the way out, supporters received goody bags each filled a dark-chocolate bar studded with crystallized violet petals and A Massage Envy Spa certificate good for a one-hour massage session for $39. The holder only has to show they voted for one of the men in the Army of Pink.
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With events for October’s breast awareness month well-underway, another very different meeting was held Oct. 6 at Kreiger Hall on the Glendale Community College campus. The college played host to an event in the bi-annual Los Angeles Writers Reading Series. A writers’ panel was made up of essayist Bernard Cooper and Los Angeles Times Book Critic-writer David L. Ulin. Both read from their latest works.
Hundreds of students were present, many of which had read selections from the authors’ works. English student Melanie Dirghazarianmalhami asked, “What does your writing space look like?” Ulin answered that his is utilitarian. He said he writes on a PC. Cooper said he is a pad-and-pencil man.
The free event, open to the public, was made possible with a grant from the Glendale College Foundation.