I e-mailed Hersey's upon seeing various advertisements regarding them giving a million dollars to breast cancer. I was flabbergasted that I poured out my sad tale and startling statistics showing how ovarian cancer is so much more deadly and they send me a trite little form letter. Here's there response:
Thank you for contacting The Hershey Company.
Cash and product contributions are made to support a variety of worthy causes and non-profit organizations. Particular emphasis is placed on the needs of communities in which the company employs a substantial number of people, and on programs and institutions reasonably related to its business purposes and needs, while continuing to consider the broader needs of society. Unfortunately, we must limit our support and regretfully decline many worthy requests such as yours. We wish you all the best in your endeavors.
Your interest in our company is appreciated.
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HERSEY'S CORPORATION
- By zona
- Posted September 28, 2009 at 2:07 pm · 15 replies
- In Awareness and fundraising events
- Shared with the public
Explore topics in this discussion:
Cancer Prostate cancer Lung cancer Breast cancer Ovarian cancer
15 replies
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- By lovemnms
- Posted September 28, 2009 at 3:40 pm
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I wrote them a letter expressing my upset. I also asked them not to send me a form letter!
How embarressing-I love Hershey's and live in PA. I'm not leaving PA but can easily change my chocolate choice!!
- By Plonanon
- Posted September 28, 2009 at 4:04 pm
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The bottom line is that breast cancer is a politically correct cause. Ovarian cancer is just not. End of story.
These companies give money and PR to breast cancer because it makes them look good, and I guess they think it will increase their sales. Nobody gives a flying bleepety bleep about ovarian cancer except us and our families.
- By lovemnms
- Posted September 28, 2009 at 5:11 pm
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Earlier in the day I contacted Hershey with a letter regarding their lack of support for ovca. Here is the reply:
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"Thank you for contacting The Hershey Company.
Hearing consumer comments like yours is important to us and your concerns regarding The Hershey Company supporting ovarian cancer has been forwarded to the appropriate department.
We appreciate your loyalty as a consumer."
Jean Saldutti
Consumer Representative
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The appropriate dept. is probably the trash can.
- By laughingnikki
- Posted September 28, 2009 at 6:44 pm
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Hi ladies!
I totally understand your frustration, but now that I am a little further out from my treatment, I'm not as angry as I used to be about the invasion of pink. Let me share with you some of the stuff I've read and some of the stuff that I know totally believe.
Statistically speaking, each year about 20,000 women are diagnosised with ovarian cancer, granted a large number of us will pass away due to the illness and that is absolutely terrible. Consider that yearly, more than 185,000 people are diagnosised with breast cancer. I know that more of them survive but that number is staggering! The Susan G. Komen organization has done an incredible job getting their "brand" out and getting pink a very commonly known symbol. Know that Susan G. Komen died in the 70's from breast cancer and her sister started the company. She said the first walk she did, there were 50 people there. So, they have come along way!
So, we need to keep our noses to the grindstone. We need to get our local businesses involved, and maybe in time we will have all of the press that pink has. The other thing I think about is that all of the money that is given to breast cancer research, since there is a link in certain breast cancer cells and ovarian cancer cells, perhaps they will find something to help us.
Remember, that the people that have breast cancer is walking the same road we walk; hard, painful and scarey.
So be the voice of ovarian cancer in your community, get the word out, you may get more attention than pink does, because I think a lot of people are sick of it too.
Be well!
Nikki
- By FavoriteAunt
- Posted September 29, 2009 at 9:05 am
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Plonanon hit the nail right on the head - it's because it is the politically correct thing to do. That is all fine and good because wonderful improvements have been made for breast cancer, which is good for everyone, but there are other cancers out there.
I wonder if they would feel differently if they started publicizing the link between ovca and breast cancer?? Obviously Madison Ave. has not gotten to that yet, so the focus remains the same..only pink.
- By curiouscat
- Posted September 29, 2009 at 10:47 am
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Laughingnikki is right, unfortunately. The amount of women being diagnosed and dying from OVCA is just a fraction of those being diagnosed with breast cancer. I'm not certain it's the politically correct cause, but it is an easier cause in a lot of ways because of sheer numbers. If you increase that 185,000 new breast cancer cases by all those affected (families, friends, etc.), the numbers are staggering. It's a much more fertile ground for donations.
I'm all for publicizing any kind of cancer and gathering forces both medical and philanthropic to fight it. And I don't think anyone should give up. But in some ways it's not realistic to think the OVCA is going to get the attention it should -- at least not yet.
- By zona
- Posted September 29, 2009 at 12:43 pm
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The number of woman being DIAGNOSED with ovarian versus breast may be a fraction, but the number of american woman DYING of ovarian cancer (using 16,500 vs 40,000) compared to breast is not really some tiny fraction - its over 41%. I'ld be thrilled if we got anywhere near 41% of the money that goes to breast cancer.
Of those 185,000, remember sixty percent have 98.1% 5 year survival. An additional thirty percent have 80% survival. Another percentage have something like 67%. It's a very few number of breast cancer patients who have odds that are not way better than ours. (75% of ov patients 15-35% 5 year survival and at best 50% for all patients combined). It's true more americans die of breast cancer than ovarian each year but only 59% more. Ovarian cancer actually has MORE patients with worse odds than breast cancer.
Also, in terms of tons of money going to breast cancer awareness (as opposed to research or money to pay for mammograms or treatment for those who can't afford it), I think it's a very poor use of funds. The market is saturated with a message and money designated for a message most everyone has already heard.
Also, as I point out when ever I call or write a company, many of these 185,000 are at great risk of ovarian cancer so funding awareness and research for ovarian is in essense going to breast cancer.
- By momanderson920
- Posted September 29, 2009 at 1:49 pm
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I have friends with breast cancer and am certainly not trying to hurt their cause in any way and I realize our statistics are lower in numbers afflicted than theirs, HOWEVER, our prognosis overall is far far worse than with breast cancer and proportionately there is far more fundraising being done and attention being given to breast cancer over any other cancer and it is getting to be ridiculous....even given the higher numbers, it does not match the excessive donations they are receiving or attention given. Everytime someone gives them money, that is money denied some other worthy cancer cause. I am sorry but they are now infringing on the only month we have, September, and I think we are going to have to become vocal about it. Perhaps this requires a boycott of companies who are ignoring ovarian cancer for breast cancer. Even our government bases research grant money on numbers afflicted and does not take into consideration deaths or prognosis. It is not right. I know ALOT of breast and prostate cancer survivors but few of our kind of cancer and many other cancers. It is the same with small cell lung cancer.....the prognosis is dim and much less money is contributed to it over nonsmall cell lung cancer which has a far better prognosis. I know because my mother died of it. How will we ever improve our prognosis and treatment if we are ignored financially?
- By Ovacom06
- Posted September 29, 2009 at 5:13 pm
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Thank you zona. We are dying at a more alarming rate than breast cancer! I am writing Hershey's and I have asked my friends and family member to also write and voice their concern. Like Lovemnms I can change my choice for chocolate and all things Hershey's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Turning this whisper into a SHOUT. ((((HUGS)))) Ladies!
- By laughingnikki
- Posted September 30, 2009 at 11:57 pm
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I do not like the sea of pink that is already out there. I went to a large grocery chain in my area and even the thing where you swipe your card to pay for your stuff had a pink cardboard thing around it. I said, wow that's a lot of pink...the checker just looked at me.
Anyway, I would encourage you to think it is us WITH them, it's not us AGAINST them. We know all of the stats, we also know that all things considered it's unfair, but we need to be the change that we are looking for!
Look in your area for a NOCC, I'm involved in my chapter and we go to health fairs, sponsor walks, etc. The money we raise goes to a doctor that does research on OVCA at UVA.
Again, I understand the frustration! My prayer is that our voices become heard and maybe that means shouting a bit louder.
GOd Bless,
Nikki
- By Artemis
- Posted October 1, 2009 at 8:03 am
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Hershey's is bad candy, anyway. Stay away from it!
- By kibbitzqueen
- Posted October 1, 2009 at 10:21 am
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Ok, perhaps it should have been put to them something like this:
(humor)
Dear Hershey Company,
Ovarian cancer IS more deadly than breast cancer. BUT the bottom line of your company's profits could REALLY be affected by people getting ovarian cancer! Let me explain.
Women who don't have their uterus due to surgical removal while removing the ovaries, will then not menstruate.
I'm sure a HUGE amount of the sales you make are due to Premenstrual Syndrom! With 22,000 new women diagnosed each year. Women will NOT NEED your chocolate prior to ther menses EVERY MONTH! 22,000 women X 12 months in a year = 144,000 BAGS of candy not sold each year!
Not to mention the slump in sales while each of them does chemo and doesn't want to eat ANYTHING let alone chocolate.
For the sake of your company PLEASE support Ovarian Cancer research!
Ok, I'm being silly.
~Kibbie
- By Amy-D
- Posted October 1, 2009 at 10:48 am
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I had to respond for two reasons. One, I am an 8 year Ovarian Cancer survivor. The second reason, my mom is a Breast Cancer survivor as well. I've been reading replies about Hershey's chocolate, and all though I agree with everyone that there should be more support on Ovarian Cancer, Breast Cancer is also important to me as well. I am so lucky that the doctor's found the tumor in time and she was able to save both of her breasts through light chemo. If they haven't, I would have lost my mom to the disease.
I REFUSE to stop supporting Breast Cancer awareness over the one that I had eight years ago. If I did that, it would be a huge slap in the face for my mom. Instead, I will support BOTH Ovarian Cancer and Breast Cancer.
What is wrong with supporting both? Especially when you had a friend or a family member going through another form of cancer besides Ovarian? So before everyone goes on the "Banning Pink" band wagon, think about what I and the rest of my family went through. My dad went through hell worrying about me as I went through ovarian cancer and then 1-2 years later...seeing my mom battling breast cancer. :(
- By spendia
- Posted October 1, 2009 at 3:53 pm
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I agree with Amy-D: Why can't we support both causes and others as well? I currently have ovarian cancer and have just finished my second round of chemo when the OC recurred. I have many friends who have had or currently have breast cancer. My brother-in-law recently died of brain cancer. Cancer touches some many lives in so many ways. It was my understanding that Oprah was going to do a show on OC during September...did that in fact occur? It is my opinion that if Oprah featured OC on her show, it would do wonders in terms of awareness, warning signs, early diagnosis, treatment and the what's going on with regard to research.
- By lovemnms
- Posted October 1, 2009 at 3:53 pm
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Every cancer awareness campaign is important. Every woman with breast cancer suffers as we do, but I think we feel slighted at times which is why many of us "complain" about the sea of pink. If more companies showed public support for other cancers on their labels maybe we wouldn't "complain" as much.
Amy-D: you should continue to support the campaigns that are closest to your heart.
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