Pink Link
Our website hosts the largest breast cancer survivor database in the country with over 4,000 members in all 50 states as well as internationally. We want to be able to help the hispanic population by translating our website into spanish and creating a marketing plan to reach those survivors
About You
Section 1: You
First Name
Vicki
Last Name
Tashman
Website URL
Organization
Pink-Link
Country
United States, CA, Los Angeles County
Section 2: Your Organization
Organization Name
Pink-Link
Organization Website
Organization Phone
310-995-5204
Organization Address
149 S. Barrington Ave., #734 LA, CA 90049
Is your organization a
Non‐profit/NGO/citizen sector organization
Organization Country
United States, CA, Los Angeles County
Your idea
Name Your Project
Pink Link
Country and state your work focuses on
United States, CA, Los Angeles County
Describe Your Idea
Our website hosts the largest breast cancer survivor database in the country with over 4,000 members in all 50 states as well as internationally. We want to be able to help the hispanic population by translating our website into spanish and creating a marketing plan to reach those survivors
Website URL
Innovation
What makes your idea unique?
Pink-Link is unique in that it's web-based survivor connections. There are other services that connect survivors, but they all use the telephone. On our website, a member can search the survivor database and connect with other members using a proprietary email system that keeps users names and email addresses private. Currently, our service is in english only and we feel there's a great need in the hispanic community for support services for hispanic breast cancer survivors.
Do you have a patent for this idea?
Impact
This Entry is about (Issues)
What impact have you had?
Again, we currently have over 4,000 members in all 50 states as well as internationally. Since our launch in 2006, our members have made over 1,000 connections with each other, so we know that it's working. Women like to help other women and with the privacy and confidentiality aspects built into the Pink-Link website, women can do that without concern.
Problem
Over the years, we've noticed a discrepancy between the hispanic breast cancer community and the support that hispanic breast cancer survivors receive and/or have access to. Many face-to-face support resources exist in large cities. But what about those smaller communities that don't offer a support resource? It was estimated in 2009 that 28% of new cancer cases in the hispanic community would be breast cancer. Hispanic women
are about 20% more likely to die of breast cancer than non-Hispanic white women diagnosed at a similar age and stage. Differences in access to care and treatment likely contribute to this disparity. Intervention programs that follow patients throughout treatment in order to enhance communication between the surgeon, oncologist, and patient have been shown to reduce disparities in breast cancer care. Today, 3 out of 4 American adults own a computer. This makes Pink-Link the perfect support resource. Breast cancer survivors connecting online is the wave of the future and hispanic survivors should have the same access!
Actions
We propose to translate our website into spanish. We will also create a marketing plan to penetrate the hispanic medical community as well as hispanic breast cancer survivors. We will develop and print marketing tools.
Results
We expect to add 200 new hispanic members at the end of the first year of our new program. Currently, approximately 4% of our members are hispanic.
What will it take for your project to be successful over the next three years? Please address each year separately, if possible.
Approximately 300 words left (2400 characters).
What would prevent your project from being a success?
Approximately 250 words left (2000 characters).
How many people will your project serve annually?
101‐1000
What is the average monthly household income in your target community, in US Dollars?
Less than $50
Does your project seek to have an impact on public policy?
Sustainability
What stage is your project in?
Idea phase
In what country?
United States, CA, Los Angeles County
Is your initiative connected to an established organization?
Yes
If yes, provide organization name.
Pink-Link
How long has this organization been operating?
1‐5 years
Does your organization have a Board of Directors or an Advisory Board?
Yes
Does your organization have any non-monetary partnerships with NGOs?
No
Does your organization have any non-monetary partnerships with businesses?
Yes
Does your organization have any non-monetary partnerships with government?
No
Please tell us more about how these partnerships are critical to the success of your innovation.
We have a variety of sponsorship opportunities available. One of our sponsors provides administrative support and helps with mailing costs. Another donates $1 for every pink product sold and another donates an expert for our website as well as prizes and goody bags for various events.
What are the three most important actions needed to grow your initiative or organization?
1. research other marketing opportunities within the breast cancer and medical community.
2. develop a marketing plan to penetrate the hispanic breast cancer sector.
3. Hire a translator and programmer to translate the website into spanish.
The Story
What was the defining moment that led you to this innovation?
We've met a variety of breast cancer survivors of various ethnicities and feel that the hispanic population is an underserved area of the breast cancer community.
Tell us about the social innovator behind this idea.
Vicki Tashman, founder of Pink-Link, is a breast cancer survivor and advocate. 5 years ago, she envisioned a website with connecting capabilities to serve all breast cancer survivors and their families. She has a variety of goals for Pink-Link, one is to translate the site into spanish.
How did you first hear about Changemakers?
Through another organization or company
If through another, please provide the name of the organization or company
Amgen Foundation
 | 137 weeks ago Vicki Tashman submitted this idea. |
