THINKING PINK: Press Café raises more than $35,000

Oct. 27—For the second year, Pink the Basin had to cancel its annual luncheon fundraiser due to the pandemic.

However, once again, Press Café stepped in to help the nonprofit organization out with its second edition of Dine and Donate Week which was held last week.

For a week, 100 percent of the revenue at Press Café, which is located inside the Sewell Ford Dealership at Parks Legado Town Center, was donated to Pink the Basin which helps support local hospitals in the Permian Basin to provide mammograms and other breast cancer diagnostic services.

The total from this year's Dine and Donate Week ended up being higher than last year as $35,668.41 was raised.

This year's total was about $2,000 more than in 2020.

A check presentation was held Wednesday inside Press Café.

"We are so thrilled," Executive Director at Pink the Basin Carolina Keith said. "We had to cancel our luncheon this year due to COVID and Press Café has been a great supporter of Pink the Basin. Last year, they came in with $33,000 for us. This year, it was (over) $35,000. It is a wonderful partnership and we are so pleased with Press Café and Sewell Ford."

Not only was Keith full of praise for Press Café but also for the community members who helped contribute during last week's fundraiser.

"The community here in the Permian Basin have rallied behind Pink the Basin," Keith said. "They have understood that we partner with six hospitals in the Permian basin so we just couldn't have the luncheon because so many of the hospitals being overwhelmed. ... When the community knew we weren't doing our luncheon, they rallied. Press Café rallied behind us and we have continued to be able to service the Permian Basin with breast cancer diagnostic services and we're just happy."

The mission for Pink the Basin is to raise awareness of women's health and educate the community.

"With breast cancer, we fund the hospitals for mammograms, biopsies and other imagining. Of course, early detection is key," Keith said. "We want to educate all those 30-40 year olds to have a mammogram and if they can't afford it, Pink the Basin is here to fund them."

The money that is raised here stays in the Permian Basin.

"It doesn't go anywhere else," Keith said. The hospitals that we partner with are ORMC, MCH, Midland Regional, Permian Medical in Andrews, Reeves County in Pecos and Scenic Mountain in Big Spring."

Team Lead at Press Café Renne Elfert said one of the most exciting things from this year's Dine and Donate fundraiser was the participation from the community members.

"They were out here every single day and it just makes us so proud, especially in these times that we've had in the last few years with COVID and everything, that everyone is so willing to help out with this cause," Elfert said.

Elfert said that is one of the reasons why the fundraiser has been successful for two years now.

"We have a lot of regulars that came last year and a lot of our regulars that are here," Elfert said. "We didn't have anyone that didn't offer to add to the price of their meal once we told them what the cause was for so I think the success is due to our community for wanting to do something like this."