BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

OCTOBER 1, 2012 - BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH 

Breast Cancer Awareness Month begins today, which means we'll be inundated with pink products aimed at raising money for the prevention and treatment of breast cancer.

Buying pink can be an easy way to show your financial support for the cause.

But before you open your wallet, make sure you know how much of the purchase price is actually going to charity or medical center, and what the money will be used for.

The best way to check out charities is to log onto www.charitynavigator.org. The site ranks many breast cancer charities. For those not listed, you're best to check out the charity's website and call or e-mail if you have any questions.

If you're ready to shop, here's some of what is out there:

• Practical and pink. Earbuds from Avon are $9 with 100% of the net profits ($5.25 per item) going to the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade. To shop or for more info on the charity: www.avon.com.

• The Asics running sneaker is $100. Through October, Asics will donate $2 for every pair sold to Christina Applegate's Right Action for Women ( www.rightactionforwomen.org .) Asics is guaranteeing a minimum donation of $75,000 and a maximum donation of $100,000. For stores: www.asics.com.

• Namaste! The Pink Ribbon Yoga Mat is $21.98 and until it sells out; $1 from the purchase price will go to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation ( www.bcrfcure.org). Available at www.gaiam.com, they are also scheduled to be sold at www.amazon.com and Target stores ( www.target.com).

• The Walking Company has an exclusive on this UGG Australia Bailey Button pink boot. Through October, it's pledging 5% of the $164.95 purchase price to City of Hope ( www.cityofhope.org). Between the boots and other pink products, The Walking Company is pledging a minimum donation of $30,000. To find a store or shop on line: www.thewalkingcompany.com .

• This limited-edition pebbled leather handbag from Tommy Hilfiger is $298, with $100 of each sale going to the Breast Health International's Fund for Living, a global charity that provides help to women living with breast cancer and their families. (Charity info:www.breasthealthinternational.org .) To shop:www.tommyhilfiger.com.

• Agraria, maker of luxury bath products, is donationg 35% of its sales of items in its Lemon Verbina line (including this soap, which is $20) through October to the Breast Cancer Research Fondation. Available at Neiman Marcus, Somerset Collection South, Troy, 248-643-3300. Also: www.agrariahome.com .

• From Oct. 1- 8, aerie will donate $1 from the sale of every bra, up to $50,000, to Bright Pink ( www.brightpink.org ), a charity that provides education and support for young women at high risk of beast or ovarian cancer. (The Ella Lightly Lined Bra shown is $34.50.) To find a store or shop online: www.aerie.com.

• Palmer's will donate 15% (with a minimum donation of $100,000) from sales of specially-marked bottles of its cocoa butter products (including this lotion, which retails for $4.50) to Susan G. Komen for the Cure ( www.komen.org). Products are available at drugstores and mass merchandise stores.

• Orly's Printy in Pink collection of nail polishes --Embrace, Be Brave and You are not Alone -- retail for $10 with 20% of the profits going to Cancer Schmancer ( www.cancershmancer.org), which focuses on prevention and early detection of cancer, including breast cancer. It was founded by actor and cancer survivor Fran Dresher. Available at Ulta stores. To find one or shop online: www.ulta.com.

• This 100% mercerized wool scarf from White + Warren is $130, with 50% of its proceeds going to New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center's Women at Risk program ( nyp.org/services/war/index.html) which provides education and support for women at high risk of breast cancer. http://www.whiteandwarren.com/pink-label-geo-pattern-scarf