Cause and effect.

Every second of every minute of every hour of every day, someone steps beyond the call to do something to help other people. It might be providing directions to a visitor in our city, giving change to those who are needy or gathering a group to help a cause that effects people. For such uncaring people we really do care.

Maybe we know someone who had cancer, lost a loved one to someone who was behind the wheel when that should have been the last place they were, or many different reasons to reach out and help; making people stop and think about how good life is, and making sure every day is one you treasure is something we need to do more often. Frankly, it’s too easy to stress out. I know, because when it comes to sweating the small stuff, my pores are wide open.

Particularly in the summer and fall, you will find more people helping other people or being involved in a movement to help; I would assume it’s because of the better weather and because people are outside and reachable. In Chicago right now, you will find “street teams” out asking for people to donate to save the environment, children, and countless other causes. This may come as a shock to you, but this is known as “cause-related marketing.” For people it feels good, for companies it helps to reinforce they are really people behind the brand. 

Probably the best example of cause marketing is “Walk for the Cure”---supporting research for eventually finding the cure for breast cancer.  Most of us know it as the Susan G. Komen walk ; it’s named after a woman named Susan G. Komen of course who when she passed away from breast cancer was told, “we will find a cure for this disease in honor of your fight to beat it.”  All you have to do is walk into a grocery store in October---this is breast cancer awareness month---and see a sea of pink labels supporting the cause. 

Some see this as commercialism; I see this as a lot of money being donated to help find the cure for a horrific disease. If you go to the website and look at the partners who donate, you will see they are giving a lot of money that could be finding its way to the bottom line instead of the research centers across the globe.

Right now I am sure some “Snap.Shot.” readers are probably thinking---“he has sold out? “ Nope, I have actually bought in, because I do believe these dollars will one day find the cure. How cool would it be if that dollar were yours?

The photo above was taken last fall during a local high school football game.  The player was on the other team; I can’t recall if all of the players had the pink ribbon on their helmet, but I found it to be a tribute I had to photograph.  I am glad I did. When you have lost a loved one to something that makes you stop and wonder, “why?” think about how commercial cause-related marketing is…chances are you will pick up the pink can.

Thanks for stopping by.