‘Creative Cups’ Returns For Third Year

Written by Stephen Levine Friday, 05 October 2012 00:00

Project honors and raises money for those suffering from breast cancer

Whether it is a grandmother, a mother, a sister, a daughter, a friend or a colleague, it is likely that most people will in some way be affected by breast cancer in their lifetime. Now there is an opportunity to give back to the cause and help others. And with October being National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the timing couldn’t be better.

For its third year, the Creative Cups program is back at Adelphi University. The project encourages artistic expression for participants, who design and build works of art using bras, which will be exhibited and auctioned at a gala reception in the spring.

The works of art that are displayed are meant to be an expression of the celebration of the lives of those living with breast cancer or those who were lost to the disease. There is a nonrefundable $25 fee per bra to enter the project and all money raised will go to help in running the costs of Adelphi University’s NYStatewide Breast Cancer Hotline and Support Program.

“It’s a good cause. All the money will go to the Adelphi NYStatewide Breast Cancer Hotline and Support Program,” said project participant Samantha Mendez. “It’s also a fun opportunity to show your creative side, whether you’re a male or a female. Personally, I am doing this because my dad had cancer and he survived.”

Other participants in the project, such as Elisabeth Clarke, share similar sentiments as to why Creative Cups is a great way to help support survivors of cancer.

“My aunt survived breast cancer,” said Clarke. I think Creative Cups is an extremely unique way for everyone of all ages, male and female, to show off their creative side and have fun, all while raising money and awareness for breast cancer.”

The Adelphi NY Statewide Breast Cancer Hotline and Support Program that the money is being raised for was founded in 1980 and was the first program of its kind in the state addressing the psychological and societal issues associated with the disease.

As the only statewide N.Y. toll-free breast cancer hotline, they answer 4,000 calls each year and have over 350,000 website visits each year. More than 100 specially trained, professionally supervised volunteers, many of whom are breast cancer survivors, staff the center. Professional counseling is provided to 1500 people each year, and all the services of the program are free.

According to participants, getting involved in the project is easy and a unique opportunity to raise awareness and money for a great cause.

“My professor informed us about the project and I was lucky enough to be asked to be on the poster and website,” said Mendez. “It’s all over campus and on the Adelphi website. You simply register and make your own bra on anything you want.”

“How often do you get the chance to design a unique bra and transform it into a beautiful work of art and then have it auctioned off to raise money for breast cancer,” said Clarke. “It’s a fabulous opportunity to support a cause that affects thousands of women and men and you see your creativity and hard work pay off directly.”

Graphic designer professor, Dale Flashner helped to get these students involved with the program. Flashner, along with Adelphi Alumna, Beth Tenser, are the co-founders of the program.

“We pitched the idea to the university and they thought it was a great idea,” said Flashner. “The first event was in 2009 and 247 people from campus and around the country sent in bras. The reason I got involved was because I had two friends suffering from the disease and I wanted to do something to support them.”

Although Flashner and many of the participants took part in this program to honor a loved one suffering from the disease, that does not mean that that has to be the case for all of the participants.

“No connections to breast cancer are necessary to take part in the event,” said Flashner. “It is open to anyone and everyone. Groups can work together and it provides a sense of community. Our goal is to engage as many people as possible and have them make bras to raise money for the event.”

Bra submissions must be submitted by Oct. 15 and this year’s Gala Reception and Auction will be held on Thursday, March 14, 2013 in the University City at Adelphi University’s Garden City campus. To register online simply go to www.adelphi.edu/creative-cups/register or contact Jennifer Perniciaro at 516-877-4320 for more information.