College President Is Top Fundraiser For Breast Cancer Campaign

ELMHURST, IL — The American Cancer Society has named Elmhurst College President Troy D. VanAken the top fundraiser of the Real Men Wear Pink campaign of DuPage County. According to the college, VanAken raised $10,135 for the campaign, crediting his success in large part to a parallel, campuswide effort called Real Bluejays Wear Pink.

In its second year, the county’s Real Men Wear Pink campaign raised a total of $47,000 to support the American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. The college said that throughout the month of October, 27 prominent men in the area participated in the campaign, raising funds and awareness in the fight to end breast cancer.

The school said Real Bluejays Wear Pink, led by VanAken and Vice President for Student Affairs Phil Riordan, a cancer survivor, engaged Elmhurst College students, faculty and staff throughout October in a number of events and activities to support the campaign.

A highlight was the Campuswide Pink-Out on Oct. 25, when more than 500 students, faculty and staff gathered on the College Mall to form a giant pink ribbon. That evening, E! News anchor Giuliana Rancic and her entrepreneur husband, Bill, spoke before an audience of more than 700 about Giuliana Rancic’s breast cancer diagnosis seven years ago and its impact on their lives, according to the school.

“I was so proud of the way the campus community came together to support the campaign,” VanAken said in a release. "Nearly all of us have a family member, friend or colleague who has been affected by breast cancer, so this has been an especially meaningful cause for us.”

“We are grateful to all the Real Men Wear Pink candidates for lending their voices to our cause,” Wayne White, executive vice president at the American Cancer Society, said in a release. “These community leaders made a huge commitment to raise funds to help save more lives from breast cancer. Donations like these allow the Society to help save lives through early detection and prevention, innovative breast cancer research and patient support.”

Photo provided by Elmhurst College.