Does the NFL really just love boobies or do they actually want to support breast cancer awareness? I posted something on Facebook this weekend when we turned on the 49er game:
“We just turned on the 49er game and Jasper’s first comment was -” it’s breast cancer awareness day mom – the NFL players are all wearing pink shoes or gloves or something and the coaches all have pink towels.” The NFL is one of the biggest sponsors of the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.”
One of my friends responded with a comment about what is the NFL’s total donation to breast cancer – Terry thought it would be minimal.
I did a bit more research to find out what “Major” sponsor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month meant and couldn’t come up with an exact figure because the NFL auctions off the goods that the players are wearing this month and then the NFL donates the proceeds.
Now, I can’t tell if the pink towels, cleats, arm bands, pom pons and many, many other things are donated or not or if the NFL has to purchase them – my guess is that their sponsors and partners donate these goods and take a tax write off for the donation. Last year the NFL donated $1M in proceeds – of other people’s money. What a brilliant strategy – have your sponsors pony up merchandise that your players wear and autograph, then sell it to your fans. And then donate the money that your fans spent on the merchandise to breast cancer awareness. Brilliant – other people’s merchandise, other people’s money. I wish I could come up with marketing campaigns like this!
As Terry said, the awareness is great, but can’t the NFL make a meaningful donation? If they are serious about supporting this cause, then pony up a meaningful amount of money.
It was the pink poms pons that killed me on Sunday! The NFL could do a LOT more than sport pink pom pons; for example, each team could start with their own $1M donation to their region and the NFL itself could do its own $25M donation and it would still be a drop in the bucket for them (and it would be their own money) as opposed to donating other people’s money generated from the pink merchandise auction.
I don’t like organizations to jump on a cause bandwagon and then do something self serving. I do like that they are trying to raise awareness for the breast cancer cause. I want them to make a difference for the cause they are supporting – something meaningful! Just my 2 cents – what do you think?
Pingback: Breast Cancer Awareness or Just Pink Washing? - PractiGal
Now I’m really annoyed…this is classic “pink-washing,” to borrow a half phrase from the green community. I suppose if we exposed this all over and wrote messages to NFL team owners, one of them might make a meaningful donation…or not. Thanks for digging around. I think they just do it for the boobies. đŸ™‚