The WCA Foundation is proud to partner with an outstanding group of organizations and local businesses to recognize October as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This important month is dedicated to education, early detection, support, and hope for those impacted by breast cancer.

Breast cancer affects approximately 1 in 8 women during their lifetime, making it one of the most common cancers among women. The encouraging news is that when breast cancer is detected early, before it advances, the five-year survival rate is more than 99%. These statistics reinforce the importance of annual mammograms and regular screenings, which remain among the most effective tools for detecting breast cancer at its earliest and most treatable stage.

Throughout October, the WCA Foundation will offer a variety of activities focused on breast health awareness, prevention, survivorship, and support. Together, we will celebrate survivors, honor loved ones and encourage both women and men throughout our community to prioritize their health through regular screenings.

The funds raised through these efforts are critical to advancing breast health services in our community. One of the Foundation’s most significant initiatives has been partnering with generous donors to enhance and renovate the Mammography Department at UPMC Chautauqua. We recognize that for many women and men, a mammogram can be an emotional and anxiety-producing experience. This renovation has been thoughtfully designed to create a more welcoming, private, and comforting environment that restores dignity, respects privacy, and provides peace of mind for every patient. We are pleased to share that the planning and design phases are nearing completion, and renovations will begin once the remaining funds are secured.

As we come together this month, I encourage you to learn more about breast health, participate in our Breast Cancer Awareness Month activities, and support efforts to advance breast health services in our community. Every gift helps invest in resources, technology, and patient-centered spaces that make a meaningful difference in the lives of local women, men, and their families.

Most importantly, if you are due for a screening, please schedule your annual mammogram. It is one simple appointment that could save your life. Early detection remains our strongest defense against breast cancer and taking that step today could make all the difference tomorrow.

Thank you for joining us in raising awareness, supporting individuals and families impacted by breast cancer, and helping to ensure that exceptional breast health services remain available close to home.

For nearly two decades, compassion, creativity, and teamwork have transformed one awareness event into a powerful employee-led movement.

A Tradition That Grew with Every Act of Kindness

Nearly 20 years ago, the Cummins Jamestown Engine Plant Women’s Empowerment Network launched a Breast Cancer Awareness Event with a simple goal: to educate employees and encourage conversations about breast health. What began as a modest awareness effort soon became something much larger — an annual tradition powered by the passion, generosity, and personal stories of employees across the plant.

Each year, the campaign begins with a specially designed Breast Cancer Awareness T-shirt. Employees purchase and proudly wear the shirt, creating a visible wave of support throughout JEP. The design is more than apparel; it is a shared symbol of solidarity with those fighting cancer, admiration for survivors, remembrance of loved ones, and hope for a future without breast cancer.

Employees Make the Difference

At the heart of the event is an employee-led basket raffle held in the plant cafeteria. Every basket is donated by an employee, a team, or a department, and volunteers keep the fundraiser running across all three shifts. The result is a welcoming event filled with creativity, friendly excitement, and a strong sense of community.

Education remains central to the campaign. Representatives from local healthcare organizations are invited to share breast health information and connect employees with helpful resources. This blend of awareness and action keeps the event rooted in its original purpose while expanding its reach.

Employee Perspective

“Breast Cancer Awareness events are important to me because I have family members who have been affected by breast cancer. Early detection through regular screening is key to saving lives. I am passionate about raising funds through our BCA events so that we can make a meaningful impact in our community.” — Brelynn Ball

Local Support, Lasting Impact

Proceeds from the annual fundraiser support local breast cancer care through the WCA Foundation and Warren General Hospital. That impact is possible because employees continue to give their time, creativity, and resources year after year. Every donated basket, purchased shirt, raffle ticket, volunteer shift, and shared story adds another thread to a tradition built by the entire plant.

Leadership Across Every Shift

JEP WEN is co-led by Melissa Pollino and Dori Highhouse, supported by a core group of approximately 30 employees representing all three shifts. Together, they coordinate the many details behind the campaign while creating opportunities for others to participate in meaningful ways.

The annual Breast Cancer Awareness Event is more than a fundraiser. It is a reminder of what can happen when employees unite around a cause: awareness becomes action, generosity becomes care, and one event becomes a legacy of hope.

Together, JEP turns pink into purpose — and purpose into impact.

My late mother, Sue Lamb, and her friend Oleta Hannon, began Framed in Pink Bowling Over Breast Cancer in 2009 under the name Bowl for a Cure. Their goal was always to make a difference while doing something they loved: bowling! Proceeds at that time went to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

In 2014, my sisters Marcia, Patti, Kristy and I joined our mother in partnering with the WCA Foundation to further expand her efforts. We rebranded the event to Framed in Pink Bowling Over Breast Cancer. Through endowments, proceeds stayed local and helped support local breast cancer care & treatment at UPMC Chautauqua. Year after year, over 140 bowlers supported the cause, as well as local businesses and individuals through monetary and basket raffle donations.

In 2021, my mother passed away due to complications unrelated to breast cancer, but we have worked hard to continue her legacy, with the goal to raise funds for local breast cancer care and prevention. This charity and our community meant everything to my mom. It was the way she always showed up for others, the compassion she held, and the light she brought into every room, that made everyone feel valued. Sue Lamb’s legacy continues to inspire and uplift all who have had the privilege of knowing her.

Since 2014, Framed in Pink Bowling Over Breast Cancer has raised thousands of dollars in partnership with the WCA Foundation. My mom’s goal and passion was to raise $10,000–$15,000 a year. Following the recent closure of Jamestown Bowling Company, the Framed in Pink committee decided this year to instead hold a cornhole tournament in September. We are so grateful for all who made it another huge success!

The WCA Foundation was established 44 years ago through a single estate gift that created an endowment fund for the WCA Hospital, now UPMC Chautauqua. Today, the WCA Foundation has grown and stewards 50 endowment funds with assets totaling more than $23 million, reflecting decades of philanthropic investment in the health and well-being of our community.

What is an endowment and why is it important? An endowment is a permanent investment in the future of a charitable organization. The original gift is invested and maintained in perpetuity, while a portion of the earnings is distributed annually to support the donor’s intended purpose. By generating reliable, long-term income, endowments help strengthen an organization’s financial stability and ensure continued support for its mission for generations to come.

One of the greatest advantages of an endowment fund is its ability to grow over time. Donors, family members, friends, and community supporters can continue adding to a fund through personal gifts, memorial contributions, estate plans, fundraising events, and other charitable efforts. Sometimes, even the smallest acts of generosity, from community fundraisers to a child’s lemonade stand, can help grow an endowment and expand its impact.

Many donors are drawn to endowment giving because of their sustainability and long-term reach. Rather than helping one individual or meeting a single need, an endowment can support countless patients and families for years to come. As the fund continues to grow, so does its ability to provide care, comfort, education, and hope.

Endowment funds established through the WCA Foundation remain local. Earnings from these funds directly support UPMC Chautauqua and the patients they serve, helping to ensure that high-quality health care remains available close to home.

“My children and I established the Brad and Becky Van Riper Digestive System Cancer Endowment Fund after Brad passed away in 2018 at the WCA Foundation,” said Becky Van Riper-Brooks. “Brad spent his life caring for others. An endowment fund named in his memory continues that legacy by helping patients and families facing cancer, today and for generations to come.”

“Endowment funds are one of the most meaningful ways donors can make a lasting impact on local healthcare,” said Kristin Melville, Executive Director of the WCA Foundation. “Whether supporting a specific program or addressing UPMC Chautauqua’s greatest needs, endowments provide resources that help patients year after year. Donors appreciate that these funds can continue to grow through additional gifts and community support, increasing their impact over time. Most importantly, these gifts stay right here in our community. Endowments transform generosity into legacy, ensuring that quality healthcare remains strong for future generations.”

To learn more about endowment funds and how they support healthcare at UPMC Chautauqua, visit www.wcafoundationjamestown.org or contact Kristin Melville, Executive Director, WCA Foundation, at 716-664-8665 or melvillek@upmc.edu.