Shelton Area: Valley Goes Pinktoberfest

For the second year in a row, I have had the privilege of leading a committee and hosting a very special event - Pinktoberfest!
Pinktoberfest is an annual fundraising event hosted by the Young Emerging Professionals (YEP), and is one of the many events that are part of the Valley Goes Pink.

Both Pintoberfest and The Valley Goes Pink grow and become better recognized each year. 2014 marks the 5th annual, and I have been getting a lot of questions. It seems there is quite a bit of confusion regarding how The Valley Goes Pink works and how Pinktoberfest fits into the mix. My goal with this post is to answer some questions you might have.

Here are some FAQs:

What is The Valley Goes Pink?

The Valley Goes Pink is a grassroots, community-wide effort throughout the Lower Naugatuck Valley to:

• create awareness about breast cancer and the importance of early detection
• support the Hewitt Center for Breast Wellness at Griffin Hospital, and
• showcase partnering organizations

Who runs/manages VGP?The Valley Goes Pink is managed by a team at the Griffin Hospital Development Fund, though the committee chairs are note hospital employees - Pat Tarasovic (Valley United Way) and Susan Coyle (Real Estate Two).

If you are a part of one event, does that mean you are a part of them all?Here is the number one question that I have been asked recently. The short answer yes and no.

Yes: Each event is a part of VGP, and being a part of one of them puts you in that group. Volunteers get invited to the kickoff and wrap up events and their event is recognized as being a part of VGP.

No: Each event is created, managed, and run by individuals or teams. Anyone can host an event and designate the proceeds to the cause, but in order for it to be an official event, it must be submitted to the committee. Once the VGP committee is aware of the event, they can help out during the process by answering any questions that come up and by promoting the event.

How does Pinktoberfest fit in?Pinktoberfest is the annual “Pink” event hosted by the Young Emerging Professionals. As committee chair, I put a team together and we came up with a plan. Each committee member was responsible for certain tasks (finding sponsors, drawing items, and spreading the word). We submitted the date, time, and location during the VGP kickoff meeting in April, which is about the time that we started planning this year’s event. We had full control over our event, but got to use The Valley Goes Pink resources to help spread the word and guide us along.

Pinktoberfest is fun night of networking, food, games, wine and beer tastings, contests, drawing (raffle), and we even had a selfie station and a store this year! While the details might change year to year, the spirit of giving and community is always the same. With between 70 and 120 people in attendance depending on the year,

Are all of the events the same?Absolutly not! In fact, each event is very unique. From playing BINGO for Boobies, to singing karaoke, walking or cooking for a cause, to wine and chocolate tastings, there is something for everyone and every budget. Events are held all over the Valley.

Some Pink events last a few hours and some last the whole month. Find out more about the different type of events on the Valley Goes Pink webpage. Some events are held each year, while others are one time only.

How do I know what events are going on and where they will be held?
There are a few ways to stay up to date with all of the events:Check the websiteLike the page on FacebookFollow @Pinktoberfest on twitter

Did I answer all your questions or do you have more? Please post your question in the comments below and I will answer them as soon as I can.

Remember, this year may be wrapping up, but it is never too early to start planning for next year!