Downtown Downers Grove salon Rocco and Rocco teamed up with the Bright Pink Organization to educate and spread awareness of breast cancer in the community.
Rocco and Rocco sold and installed pink hair extensions to clients and all the proceeds went to the non-profit Bright Pink Organization.
Rocco purchased 160 pink extensions and 112 were installed. The extensions normally cost $15 for one or $40 for three.
Rocco wanted to promote Bright Pink and encourage more people to get them so they charged $12 for one extension and $30 for three. Bright Pink’s mission is to save lives from breast and ovarian cancer by promoting prevention and early detection.
Rocco raised money from Oct. 1-31 for breast cancer awareness month. This is Rocco and Rocco’s second year fundraising for breast cancer with Bright Pink Organization.
“I’ve had breast cancer, as have many of our guests. I thought we should all get together and support this cause,” co-owner of Rocco and Rocco, Mankie Rocco said. The employees of Rocco dressed in pink throughout the month and sported their pink hair extensions.
There were specific themes on Saturdays throughout the month, such as wearing pink headbands, scarves, pink shirts or jewelry.
“I think Rocco and Rocco is doing something really amazing by offering the pink hair extensions at the salon and donating that money to such an amazing cause. I also think it is really awesome how many, if not all, the employees and stylists have the extensions and are wearing pink to spread awareness and support the cause,” shampoo assistant and DGN junior Maggie Maloney said.
Last year, Rocco and Rocco was able to raise $1,500. This year their goal was to raise $2,500. By the end of the month Rocco ended up raising about $2,000.
All money raised by Rocco and Rocco goes to Bright Pink Organization for education workshops, outreach groups, one-on-one peer support programs.
“We’ve hopefully helped start the conversation on breast cancer awareness and lead people to the Bright Pink Organization to become more educated on how to help yourself and others,” Rocco said.
“I think Rocco is doing a great service to the town by donating money to breast cancer because it raises awareness for the disease. I decided to donate because although it was not a lot of money, every penny counts,” Rocco and Rocco client and junior at DGN Maria Derrig said.
Marina Margarites | Staff Writer