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About The Luncheon
Thanks to the generous support of the Greater Cincinnati community, the Cris Collinsworth ProScan Fund’s Pink Ribbon Luncheons have raised over $1.9 million dollars to provide breast cancer education and early breast cancer detection services for all Tri-State women as well as support services to those women newly diagnosed with b reast cancer.
Now entering its ninth year, the Pink Ribbon Luncheon has grown to one of the largest afternoon fundraisers in the city, drawing over 1300 women, community leaders, and business executives from Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky.
Emceed by Carol Williams and Cris Collinsworth, the luncheon has hosted such notable speakers as Country Music Sensation Lee Ann Womack, Olympic Swimmer Dara Torres, entertainer Diahann Carroll, and author and healer Dr. Andrew Weil.
The luncheon is chaired by Penny Pomeranz, Nancy Fehr, Karen Cassidy, and Holly Collinsworth.
Growth of the Pink Ribbon Luncheon
 Since 2002, the Cris Collinsworth ProScan Fund has kicked off Breast Cancer Awareness Month by hosting The Pink Ribbon Luncheon, an annual October fundraiser that supports the Pink Ribbon programs.
In 2002, Vickie Girard, author of There’s No Place Like Hope gave an inspiring talk to more than 600 women who attended the inaugural luncheon to show their support for the Cincinnati launch of The Pink Ribbon Programs. Funds raised from this luncheon went towards funding the Pink Ribbon Bag program.
In 2003, Dr. Jerri Nielsen, author of the #1 New York Times Bestseller, Ice Bound, spoke to over 750 women at the Pink Ribbon Luncheon and chronicled the story of how she diagnosed and treated her own breast cancer while trapped in the South Pole. Funds raised from this luncheon provided support for the Pink Ribbon Mammogram Match and Bag programs.
In 2004, over 1100 people attended the luncheons and were treated to a speech by award winning author Anita Shreve. Funds raised at the 2004 luncheon provided seed money to create the ProScan Pink Ribbon Center in inner city Cincinnati, the first free-standing mammography clinic aimed at primarily serving women without health insurance with little or no access to quality healthcare.
In 2005, over 1200 women attended The Pink Ribbon Luncheons. Guests were treated to inspirational lectures by authors Geralyn Lucas, author of Why I Wore Lipstick to My Mastectomy and Dr. Bernie Siegel, author of Love, Medicine and Miracles. Funds raised from this luncheon supported the ProScan Pink Ribbon Center in Over the Rhine, which had opened its doors a month prior in September of 2005.
In 2006, the Pink Ribbon Luncheon celebrated its fifth birthday. Empowering over 1250 attendees to take charge of their health, world-renowned speaker and best-selling author Dr. Andrew Weil encouraged the audience to take a proactive approach to their health and well-being . Celebrity furrier Dennis Basso also joined the festivities, unveiling fashions from his fall line. Funds raised from this luncheon provided support for the newly created Pink Ribbon Empowerment Program (PREP), a culturally competent, age appropriate outreach program that reaches underserved women.
In 2007, legendary actress, singer and entertainer Diahann Carroll spoke to 1350 attendees about her battle with breast cancer while reflecting on life experiences as an actress, wife and mother. Funds raised from this tea-party themed luncheon provided support for increased outreach efforts and the acquisition of two 15 passenger Pink “Cruisin’ for a Cure” vans that provide transportation to and from a mammogram appointment for those patients needing it.
In 2008, Olympic phenom Dara Torres inspired 1400 attendees with her riveting story on her rise to Olympic fame and becoming one of the top female swimmers of our time. Funds raised from the picnic themed luncheon provided support for a state of the artdigital mammography machine and targeted education and outreach efforts through the “What’s Best for my Breasts” program for the women of our community.
In 2009, Country Music Sensation Lee Ann Womack wowed a crowd of 1350 attendees at the 8th Annual “Gems and Jeans” themed luncheon. Funds raised from the event benefitted expansion of The ProScan Pink Center Over the Rhine and underwrote Breast MRI exams for low-income, uninsured women. |
