Think Pink....Think Pink in the City....

Anyone who has ever been a part of coordinating fundraising events, you know first hand,  exactly how much work is involved.....and .you also know first hand how rewarding it is.  It means countless hours of working on the upcoming event, no sleep, talking pink in the city during our family dinners, dinning room converted to pink in the city headquarters, pink brain freeze moments and lots of heightened emotions when the tough gets going.....so why am I doing this again....remind me ??? Oh yes, there is no greater feeling then when that day comes.... and everything goes as planned....or maybe not....lol !  and the day you hand over that check.....what a proud moment...it takes away all the tiredness and  motivates you to do this again.  I know....I must be insane....but there is that something inside that drives me....care and compassion.  When your heart drives you...you can balance your life and make a non profit charity a part of your every day life.... that is my life and has been for the last 8 years.  Already August.....and starting to work on Pink in the City.....our Spring Charity Ball is booked for May 1, 2015...we are so excited and when I say we...this includes all of us on the pink in the city team who is family, friend, volunteer, supporter, sponsor and partner !  I  had  such a wonderful time with everyone making this past event a success....and really excited to make our upcoming one an even bigger success !

Who would have thought that Lawrence's simple request to fundraise 8 years ago for breast cancer would evolve into our Pink in the City success story.What began as a one time fundraising activity, has evolved into our family grassroots Pink in the City non profit charity organization to support a network of breast cancer survivors. To support members fighting,  to save lives, create better futures and model the way. Pink in the City has established  a community supported by so many volunteers, sponsors, friends,family and teachers that have been a huge support right from the get go. What has been really special and exceptionally touching....is when people reach out to me that I don't know, just simply wanting to support us. That truly is the most amazing feeling...and just reiterates to me that we have an entire community behind us, we are not in this alone.  Our supporters are  there, ready to assist in their special way, working together to increase survivorship and to make it better for those fighting the fight. With the help of our corporate partners, individual donors, school partners and interested supporters in our community, my family and I will continue to donate our time and energy to educate, support and care for the network of survivors that drive us to do what we do every single day. I am hoping that by the end of my post, if you were not one of our supporters....that you will have a change of heart and be !  Only you know how you can help us and if you are able to....I would love to hear from you !

Having an entire community by our side, supporting us in every way to make this annual event the best success ever is special and I would be lying if I said I was not touched and grateful. As a matter of fact, I get teary eyed and emotional every time our story comes up or someone talks to me about Pink in the City. You are probably wondering why ?? Well – I take it to heart and am very proud, proud to represent a story that we all created and proud of what we have accomplished. It is really incredible to see first hand individuals that care and genuinely want to help you. Yes, there are many compassionate individuals out there i have had the pleasure to be in touch with.  Working on this charity, I have also come across many interesting and fascinating individuals, who are generous and interested in being part of a unique team of individuals, passionate about Pink in the City.  What a combination....running a non profit charity is lots of hard work, and on your mind when you're sleeping.,,,but all worth it.

So, together with an incredible team of volunteers, we gave it our heart and soul to make our annual event the success it was. Seeing it evolve to what it has become is really something incredible.  This year we are already thinking.... how can we make this one bigger, how can we raise more money with this one. Our purpose is to give back and help create awareness and fundraise for breast cancer. Breast cancer touches so many women and men. We often hear only about women, but there are men as well that are touched by this dreadful disease. We were driven from all those that we knew and did not know that were impacted by breast cancer and that is what drives us today.  I am so grateful we have so much support.  We cannot do any of this alone and thanks to so many caring, selfless people out there that want to give their time and energy,  we are able to support our cause and make it a reality to help us support the many breast cancer patients out there that can benefit from all of our help. We cannot bring back those that have left us, but we can make a huge difference to those that are fighting.  Our 2014 Pink in the City organizing committee was out of this world - just thinking of the contributions each member brought to the team makes me real proud.

This year, we want to work with the schools to grow our "Model the Way" program. We are hoping the students will participate and become advocates for  Pink in the City  and what it represents. 
Pink in The City is not just a charity to raise awareness for breast cancer, but one that inspires everyone to get involved and model the way for others, pay it forward. If we each contribute in our special way, we will be able to raise awareness and funds to support the acquisition of specialized medical equipment and that is something that every breast cancer survivor will thank you a million times over.

Pink in the City serves as ambassadors and encourage volunteer-active communities. Through our act of volunteerism and our message, we would  like to  empower students all across Canada that they can make a difference and create their own success stories just like Pink in the City. They play an important role in increasing volunteer participation and leadership within local schools and across canadian communities to promote "Model the way " program.
Pink in the City promotes young mentors and volunteerism in our schools to the next level and will award each participating school a Scholarship to recognize a young student that has displayed outstanding and exemplary leadership attributes in  the community.

If you want to join us,  there are many ways to lead by example and create/celebrate success stories, our aim of this program is for students to have fun, be creative and pick their own fundraising activity, which could consist of the following, but not limited to :

• Fundraising : Model the way bookmarks/donation 5.00

• Dress pink days/color your school pink,/pink sporting days

• Fashion show…..boys model the way

• Comedy for Pink

• Talent for Pink

• Track and Field for Pink

• Music show for Pink

• Sport days for Pink

• Sponsors to match funds raised for Pink in the City

• Raffles
I am hoping that you will give this program consideration to partner with us and create the next success story!  Everyone will have many months to fundraise and our aim is to pool in everyone's efforts on May 1, 2015 to celebrate our successes.  Our target for 2015 is $125,000.

As one of the founding members, you can understand this is dear to my heart and am reaching out to each of you to ask for your support and consideration.  To all companies headquartered in the region, branches of large corporations, local businesses, local sports teams, local schools and just simply ordinary citizens, please sponsor  Pink in the City or be a part of a school or workplace fundraising activity that will bring pink fun to any office or school.  Every time you share our page, you share awareness and share our story.

I want to personally Thank all of our participating sponsors for your contributions who made it possible for us to reach our target in 2014 and all of our loyal supporters.  Thank You for your support in the fight against breast cancer - you make a difference with each dollar donated.  Please visit our Pink in the City Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/PinkInTheCityCanada?ref=hl    to stay connected and join us to paint our community Pink !　

Phil, Steven and Lawrence at Pink in the City Spring Charity Ball 2014

Donated $60,000 to the Cedars breast clinic of the MUHC  2014

Opening speech by vourtzoumis brothers Pink in the City Spring Charity Ball 2014

　

lawrence's first shave 2006 !

Lawrence's teachers  are there to support him in 2006 shave !

CTV Aphrodite Salas and Rob Lurie host Pink in the City Spring Charity Ball 2014

Evie Vourtzoumis prepares check at RVH

Thank you to all our supporters 

Dr. Meterissian presents new gamma probe purchased with $60,000 donation from Pink in the City

After all this time...

In the summer, on the 8th month of the year...august was a glorious month ! a baby was born to the most beautiful woman......that was my mom !

I was really blessed to have a caring mother who was there for me from beginning to end. She was the world to me. I write and can`t help but think of her and how I miss her.....it has been 11 years....and miss her dearly.  Although I cannot bring her back....she is very much a part of my life as if she was here, and a big part of all our special family events.


As an only child, she was a wonderful role model to me. One that positively affected my life and one that I had and to this day have a great deal of appreciation and respect for - I was lucky indeed to have had the most wonderful mom anyone can have.  Our bond was like no other.....she taught me values, strength and love. I feel like I have taken so much from her....and sometimes catch myself doing the things my mom did.  We never admit that we are like our parents....but in some strange way, we are....so give it up !

She was one of  the most important individuals in my life while I was growing up. She was the kind of mother I am proud to be today, she gave me all her attention, she listened to me, and was there for me.  To care and be a positive example.

She was a strong woman, a nourisher and a woman that encouraged good behaviours in the development of her child, fostering a strong and well rounded individual.  Her duty was to take care of her only daughter, and be the best she can be....and she was. She was so proud. Proud of the daughter she raised. I still remember fondly mothers day mornings.....I would be so excited to give her my hand made card, macaroni necklace and a flower.....served to her in bed - back then we did not have digital camera's and did not take pics of everything like we do today. I probably have those macaroni necklace's somewhere close.  That was the most amazing feeling for her and for me.....I cherish those moments and am lucky to have experienced as a mom  the same handmade cards and macaroni necklaces from my boys.   I think we all have. The role of the mother teaches us how to nurture, how to be a positive example, how to love, how to be compassionate, how to show emotional and moral support. I was lucky enough to have my mom shape my life with the right examples and she was a great influence on family values....I will be forever grateful for the wonderful impression she made on me. When I think back....she was strong, respectful, loving, forgiving and at peace. She was an entrepreneur with a knack for business.... she definitely was a go getter.

I have to say....growing up, I was fortunate to have my mom`s parents live with us....they were a true inspiration and source of strength, the driving force for me that til today left an incredible impression on my life. We had a great family life and they always made me feel very close to them. They were thoughtful and expressed their love. They brought to me a great deal of joy. They will forever live in my heart and who would think that years later.... I feel just as close to them. My family unit did all they can for me while juggling work, managing a house and lots more.

I always felt secure, loved and they spent lots of quality time together with me. When I look back....my parents and my grandparents did everything they could to make it the most enjoyable of family experiences. Every year to celebrate my birthday, they would bring together our family and friends and make it a very big deal ! To this day...I treasure those days and everything they did for me to make me feel special.   The traditions they created will remain with me forever and I have done the same for my family members. 

 Growing up, as a family....I remember we talked about everything and they gave me alot of encourgement through words and affection. They disciplined me with love and lots of understanding. They were there for every school concert and greek dancing concert....their support in each of these events was appreciated and never forgotten....I still remember them sitting in the audience. What a great feeling that was. The little things that make such an amazing difference in our lives and we hold on to those memories. I was blessed they took such  an interest in what I was doing. Memories are all we have to hold on to.

Last year, my son got married, and my amazing daughter in law requested that my mom's brooch be a part of her bouquet.....I cried and I cried.  I still cry today writing about this.  It was the most touching and thoughtful request Evie could have made....really I am blessed....to have such an amazing family to keep her alive...every single day....she is missed...but not forgotten !



So my takeaways from this family unit was to be strong, respectful, loving, forgiving,  happy and at peace ! To celebrate together and make the very best of each day.....I can't help but think of these important people that were such a big part of my life on the very day I celebrate each year and that they for years made it so special for me.  Her memory lives in all of us....and so do my papou and yiayia.           Would love to hear from you on what are your takeaways are from your childhood.

one of my favorite memories.....
my 8th birthday  with mom, dad, papou stathis and yiayia sophia !
 loved them dearly

our wedding 1983 with my papou stathi, my mom and my step dad

 

 

                                             

On my son's and daugther-in-law's wedding day, my mom's brooch was a
part of their special day
 

                                                 Feel free to share your favorite memories...