A Woman's Apparel CEO explains why he WON'T fund Ovarian Research

Folks, it troubles me to submit this to you. Frankly, I'm horrified to have read what I was just forwarded regarding why a CEO of a woman's apparel company won't fund ovarian cancer research.

Even so, it might be of some use, especially with regard to understanding how much of a challenge awareness and fundraising for ovarian cancer research really is.

As some of you know, I spend a little time approaching organizations that might be able to give money to ovarian cancer research.

Through one organization's publicist, I recently approached the CEO of a noted WOMAN'S ACCESSORY COMPANY---one that has already given $3 million in charitable donations to breast cancer research over the past six years, but has given nothing to ovarian.

This company wants to launch its next nationwide campaign on behalf of its breast cancer research in September--in Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.

The conversation began when I reviewed their press release and I pointed out to the publicist that it wasn't appropriate to kick off a breast cancer campaign in the middle of Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, and suggested that the company should at least wait with the campaign until October, so as not to use up Ovarian Cancer's already limited media oxygen.

I also I painted a case to the publicist why he should be supporting Ovarian as well as Breast Cancer research. I sent him stats from the Department of Defense demonstrating that Breast Cancer research exceeds Ovarian Cancer research 10-1. I told him through his publicity arm about the high mortality rates of ovarian cancer versus breast cancer. And I even shared a little of our own personal journey.

Here is the email response I got back from this man, who has built his own personal fortune on selling women's accessories:

There are 100's of diseases but Joseph doesn't get it.
Heart Disease will kill you.
other diseases might kill you to.
Women are not worried about the death.
They worry about no longer being a desirable woman..
Will my husband still want me?
Will he look at me the same?
Will be stare at me if I have the disease, etc.

I don't know how you're going to respond to this; I know that because it ignored everything I had said, I told the publicist that I never wanted to hear anything about this man or this company from her again.

And I don't know how you respond to this idea held by a woman's apparel CEO: this idea that even when facing mortality, you do not so much aspire to comport yourself with dignity through the way you present yourself, but you merely fret about the way your partner looks at you.

But I would love to hear how women especially respond to this kind of vision of women and illness from the CEO of a noted woman's accessory company.

By Doubleliz
Posted August 22, 2009 at 10:48 am
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I think we should be privilege to know the company name and the CEO so we could follow up individually. Also, the public should know how they feel. This is terrible.

By notdone
Posted August 22, 2009 at 11:06 am
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I agree -- we should know the company name and CEO so we can let our voices be heard during ovca awareness month. There is more than one way to make people aware. Please share ....

By youngmom
Posted August 22, 2009 at 11:21 am
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Unbelievable ! I am sure there are some early stage BC survivors who have some concern over their new body look (when death does not seem likely ), but every cancer survivor I know, ovarian or breast, is most concerned about the possibility of dying from their disease. And to me, being that the likelihood of dying from OC is much greater than dying from BC (as a % of incidence rates) , supporting ovarian cancer research is of utmost importance. The bottom line is most of these companies support BC research because BC is so widespread and it makes them look good in the eys of many, many people.Ovarian cancer research, while much more urgent, does not have the numbers of people affected so it doesn't do as much to help a company's image. I wish corporate America would just step up to the plate and do the right thing when it comes to supporting OC research and awareness. Would you be willing to share the company name so I can make sure that I never use their products ?

By FavoriteAunt
Posted August 22, 2009 at 12:05 pm
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Please provide the name of this company and the man. I would certainly write a letter and never purchase any of his products - and I would pass that along to any female I know.

There may be valid reasons for not supporting ovca, but his reasons are really sick. I'm sure even breast cancer supporters and survivors would never approve of such shallow thinking. Perhaps if a loved one in his circle got ovca, he might be more understanding?

By Ovacom06
Posted August 22, 2009 at 7:03 pm
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I am at a loss for words that someone can feel this way. Please let us know the name of the company and CEO, so we can flood his in box with with emails and his mailroom with letters letting him know that his reasons for not supporting OC are not valid.

By sarahbeth
Posted August 22, 2009 at 7:57 pm
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It's sad that he doesn't even think about the fact that those of who are young often do not have the option of having children after being dianosed. How's that for lifechanging...

By lifeisgrand
Posted August 22, 2009 at 9:55 pm
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The guy's a creep and the truth is that if you slap a pink ribbon on anything it will sell more of their product. He is making far more profit from the endorsement than he is donating to any type of research. I feel sure if his mother, wife or daughter were to have ovarian cancer he would rethink the disgusting reasoning behind his so called charitable donation.

By Jen457
Posted August 23, 2009 at 10:24 am
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Joseph, I feel your outrage but you really don't get it. This man is a businessman. He wants to sell underwear. Most companies have a charitable arm that may or may not help their company get new business. Forgive me, but I am betting that you came across as whiny. When you shared the information about the higher mortality rates with OC, you told him that a lot of OC patients would not be buying his underwear in the future. And suggesting when he should start a campaign? Ouch! I would have approached him differently. I would have told him that I had ovarian cancer and feel a little like the child that is not the favorite in the family. I would have asked him to climb aboard the OC train--after all Teal goes great with pink! I would like nothing better than to buy his underwear with a teal ribbon on it. And how great it would be to see him support both. (Get your foot in the door.) And regarding bc body image--it IS a factor. Having only one breast or losing both of them is detrimental to a relationship and/or marriage. Read the breast cancer bulletin boards about how the husband won't touch the wife now, or how the wife does not want the husband to touch her, or the affairs that started after diagnosis not to mention the increased divorce rate. You can call people shallow, but feelings are feelings. I would never write off a potential donor. What if his wife, daughter or someone he knew ended up with OC? Or you gave him one nugget to think about. For most companies, the money has already been allocated for this year. I would have ended it with that I hoped he would support OC next year.

By meadow
Posted August 23, 2009 at 10:41 am
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There is a non-profit foundation called the Patient Advocacy Fund. The foundation pays for chemotherapy for a long list of cancer. Ovarian cancer is not included unless your blood count drops very low. It is not a foundation that limits their assistance based on income or resources. Their offices are located in Newport News, Virginia.

Certainly the genetic relationship of breast cancer to ovarian cancer is directly related to their obsurd rationale. The effects of cancer and the fear associated with the dread disease push many families apart rather than bring them together. This would certainly affect his end of line money. When you have lost your livelihood it is almost impossible to afford their product. We may have already already reduced buying his product unbeknownst to him.

By joseph2
Posted August 23, 2009 at 11:05 am
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Jen, forgive me, but I'm going to try to dispel three of your notions here. One, that I try to raise money by whining; two, that I'm unaware of the importance of physical presentation and marital problems associated with the illness; and three, that I'm a novice at fundraising.

I don't know what gave you any of these impressions, but I'll try to clear this up.

As I said, I only corresponded with the publicist, who couldn't believe his response either, frankly, which is why she forwarded it to me. As I said, I provided statistics culled from the Department of Defense, not an organization noted for servicing whiny, slanted, or sentimental presentations. And as I said, I tried to point out first that the man's breast cancer campaign was being launched in the middle of Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, which I simply don't believe is optimal sensitivity on his part, and even threatens to displace ovarian stories at a time they should not be displaced.

As for the physical dimension of illness, I'll invite you to check my journal here...there's a post called "The Star at Last" where I talk extensively about how my partner, whose career has been in fashion all her adult life, dealt with the cosmetic side of hair loss through her long chemotherapy, and how much this element of life mattered to her. (One of the special ironies of this whole correspondence has been that my own partner's studio has designed some prints for this guy's luggage line...he doesn't sell "underwear" by the way, and women's accessories also means belts, purses, wallets, etc.) I also want to assure you that I'm well aware the difficulties experienced by partners who don't seem to follow through on their vows to take each other "for richer and poorer, in sickness and in health," and have written much on this topic too. As a political writer, in fact, I've seen this phenomenon many times in years, and expressed my own outrage accordingly.

Finally, as per my "mistakes" in approach, I am not above making them, which is why I like to share these kinds of anecdotes in the first place. But please note that I did not (and will not) reveal the name either of the man or the company and thereby blow any future confidence either with his organization or with any other, and I immediately got another charitable organization involved when I thought there might be an opportunity here.

As I said, mostly by posting this story, I wanted women to see what kind of obstacles they encounter for fundraising and raising awareness for ovarian cancer. (The email text I printed was completely untouched; it was the man's entire response, unedited). I didn't, and certainly don't, want to shame a man who makes his living off of selling woman's accessories into giving something to ovarian if his heart is simply too small to give except by feeling coerced.

I'll take what you say to heart. But please know, I am indeed going to write off this guy, and move onto the next opportunity. And I am even going to encourage my publicist friend to drop him as a client. If you would like to lend me any more ovarian cancer fundraising expertise, please contact me at joseph.mailander@gmail.com.

By Shamrock2009
Posted August 23, 2009 at 11:16 am
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Meadow,
I looked on tje Patient Advocacy Foundation site and found many cancer diagnosis but no OvCa as you said. I emailed them and asked them why they discriminate against women with OvCa. I am curious to hear their answer. Maybe if others inquire it will strike of cord with them to include us.

By Laurel-J
Posted August 23, 2009 at 11:28 am
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Interesting reply Joseph. Now, I need to know the name of this accessory company so I make sure NOT to purchase any items from it with the mentality they present. I understand breast cancer has a wonderful fundraising "machine." Ovarian cancer can achieve similar results but only if we encourage women to know the symptoms. This accessory co. has a wonderful opportunity to step into a venue where few others exist, thus making them unique among the many, many accessory companies. Perhaps they might revisit this decision.

By verlinda
Posted August 23, 2009 at 6:23 pm
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First, Joseph, thank you for your initial post and your response.

Second, ladies, Joseph cannot share the name of the company/person.

Third, Joseph, thank you for pushing for awareness. I'm going to contact my local paper tomorrow to see what I can do there!

Let's make this the match that lights our fires to contact at least one organization and push for ovarian cancer awareness during September. I may not be able to affect a national organization/company, but I have at least three radio stations and two newspapers in my relatively small town. I'll never know until I try!

Let's pick up those phones, fire up our emails, and move our feet!

Blessings.

By Angel1955
Posted August 23, 2009 at 7:25 pm
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I was told flat out by a doctor that the reason breast cancer is funded more than ovarian cancer is that the cure rate is better, but how can we cure more women with ovarian cancer if we don't spend the money to research new treatments?

This boggles my mind!

There are many survivors...I am one and I think women with ovarian cancer have as much right to live as those with breast cancer. By the way, I know several women who have had both cancers, and are doing very well, thank you!

Best to all,

Angel

By artattack59
Posted August 23, 2009 at 11:05 pm
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My opinion? (If it is worth anything).....Men like boobs...Who makes most of the healthcare/ research desicions and donations?...men. I am not a man hater at all but until we tip more of the scales our way (ex: more women in research and the medical fields and louder voices) this won't change.

By Jill13
Posted August 24, 2009 at 12:02 am
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Joseph, thank you very much for your post. I understand and commend your decision not to name the company -- why stoop to their level.

His response makes me sick. I was diagnosed when I was 36 years old -- all I cared about and the thing that I worried about the most was whether or not I would be here to see my daughters grow up. What I looked like never entered my mind. This guy doesn't have a clue.

Ladies, if this company is planning a major campaign in September in honor of Breast Cancer -- we will know or at least have a good idea which company this is! My recommendation is for each of us to be very mindful and ask companies that fund Breast Cancer Research what they are doing to also help raise awareness for Ovarian Cancer.

By momanderson920
Posted August 24, 2009 at 7:06 am
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Jill13, you are right....if we can find a company that is sponsoring a breast cancer campaign in the month of ovarian cancer awareness, that will be the way to find out who they are and boycott. Also in regard to research funding by our government...it is not based on fatality rates of the cancer. That is why our cancer as well as other more fatal cancers don't necessarily get as much funding and we are furthur handicapped by less survivors and also since many of us are continually fighting the disease, less of us to pursue fundraising ourselves as in breast cancer and other cancers. Basically we and other fatal cancer survivors get a raw deal in my opinion. I wrote my members of Congress to request that they look at survival rates rather than numbers. My mother had small cell lung cancer which is a very poor prognosis cancer...if you look for clinical trials, there are few. Yet with nonsmall cell lung cancer which has a much much better survival rate, there are many many clinical trials. I think we might be in a very different place if there were more research dollars for ovarian cancer. I think it is shameful that we are basically discriminated against. So when I see groups like this company and Patient Advocacy Group doing things like this, it infuriates me.

By momanderson920
Posted August 24, 2009 at 7:20 am
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I researched the Patient Advocacy Fund and they do have a section that lists ovarian cancer...it states:
"PAF, in Advisory Opinion #04-15, was approved to provide co-pay assistance in the following 27 disease categories:"
Of that list, ovarian cancer is one. It is confusing since there is another list where it is not included. Still, I don't know why some cancers are excluded.

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