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Rust-Oleum employees Paint it Pink for cancer awareness

Employees at Rust-Oleum in Vernon Hills used the parking lot as a studio and spray paint as the medium on Wednesday to launch a social network campaign to raise money for breast cancer awareness and education.

Armed with shades of pink, including coral, berry pink and magenta, in a variety of finishes such as glitter and intense shimmer, about 100 employees representing more than a quarter of the local workforce battled the wind to kick off the #PaintitPink campaign.

Little plastic pumpkins, Mason jars and breast cancer ribbons were painted in makeshift cardboard spray booths to be displayed at home or in the office.

But the key to the company's partnership with the nonprofit Bright Pink organization is having photos of the finished products posted online and shared via social media on the eve of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

As part of the initiative, the company will donate $10 per posting — up to $5,000 — to Bright Pink, which seeks to save lives by educating and urging women to take early action.

“It's not about selling paint as much as it's about raising awareness for a good cause,” said Lisa Bialecki, senior director of integrated communications for Rust-Oleum.

Employees and the general public are being encouraged to paint an item pink and upload a picture to social media with the #paintitpink hashtag.

In September 2014, during a discussion about a flexible and removable coating the company was introducing, Bialecki decided to coat her car rims pink. About 30 other employees did the same.

“It was really fun and bold,” explained Bialecki, who lost her 58-year-old mother six years ago to ovarian cancer.

The effort expanded this year to include an organization focused on cancer prevention and awareness, as well as about a dozen bloggers in the do-it-yourself field.

Kim Lopez, a financial analyst from Mount Prospect, was among the employees who participated. The 28-year old said she had a childhood friend who died from ovarian cancer and an aunt who is a breast cancer survivor. Last year she had a son and is thinking harder about health issues.

“I guess I didn't realize all the options out there for prevention,” she said.

Armand Bonofiglio, a senior analyst with Rust-Oleum, said he'll share the information with loved ones.

“The idea is to learn about it and prevent it. Early detection can save lives,” he said.

The campaign is being conducted in association with the Rust-Oleum Cares program.

  Little plastic pumpkins were among the items Rust-Oleum employees painted pink Wednesday in Vernon Hills. Paul Valade/pvalade@dailyherald.com
  Some of the items painted pink by Rust-Oleum employees in Vernon Hills dry in the sun on Wednesday. The painting is part od a social media campaign to raise money for breast cancer awareness and education programs Paul Valade/pvalade@dailyherald.com
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