Rethinking CSR: How Internal Marketing Teams Drive Non-Profit Success

Breast cancer continues to be a leading health challenge for women across South Africa, with about one in 26 women developing the disease during their lifetime. At Reach for Recovery (R4R), a national breast cancer support organization, our mission has always been to provide emotional and practical support to those affected by this diagnosis. As the oldest breast cancer service in the country, we have spent over 57 years delivering this essential support. This October, we are proud to be part of an innovative new campaign powered by Euphoria Telecom called “Remember to Think Pink,” aimed at raising breast cancer awareness and encouraging early detection.

‘Remember to Think Pink’: A Call to Action

The ‘Remember to Think Pink’ campaign is far more than just a passive awareness initiative.

By placing physical sticky notes in everyday locations, we’re creating a visual cue that encourages women to take action. These sticky notes serve as a daily reminder to prioritize their health by scheduling breast exams.

This concept is simple yet powerful—offering an immediate call to action, supported by both online and social media efforts that help spread the message even further.
Beyond just breast cancer awareness, this campaign also offers the opportunity to showcase the extensive work we do at Reach for Recovery.

Our services range from emotional support and hospital visits to practical aid, such as supplying temporary prostheses to women who have undergone mastectomies, and via our landmark DITTO project, we are also able to equip women in vulnerable communities with free silicone prostheses.

With over 225 volunteers across the country, RFR provides a critical lifeline for women and their families as they navigate their breast cancer journey.
Euphoria’s innovative campaign allows us to reach even more people, raising awareness not just about early detection, but about the services and support we provide to the community.

Corporate Social Responsibility Done Differently: Tapping Into Expertise

In today’s world, CSR is more than just writing checks or donating products—it’s about utilizing the unique talents and resources within a company to make a real difference. As Lauren Pybus, National Marketing Manager at Euphoria Telecom, outlined in a recent article, traditional CSR models often prioritize financial donations. While these are invaluable, there’s an entire realm of expertise—particularly in areas like marketing, legal, and finance—that many non-profits, including R4R, can benefit from.

Many non-profits struggle to attract the same level of skill and talent that corporate sectors can draw upon, due to limited budgets and financial resources. The non-profit sector experiences significant skills gaps, making it challenging to develop and implement wide-reaching campaigns. This is where Euphoria’s contribution has been truly groundbreaking.

By using their own internal marketing department, Euphoria was able to develop and execute the ‘Remember to Think Pink’ campaign without the need for expensive external advertising agencies. This not only kept the costs down but allowed them to redirect funds towards R4R’s printing and production costs for campaign materials—crucial elements in rolling out this campaign to the public.

‘Remember to Think Pink’: A Call to Action

The ‘Remember to Think Pink’ campaign is far more than just a passive awareness initiative. By placing physical sticky notes in everyday locations, we’re creating a visual cue that encourages women to take action. These sticky notes serve as a daily reminder to prioritize their health by scheduling breast exams. This concept is simple yet powerful—offering an immediate call to action, supported by both online and social media efforts that help spread the message even further.

Beyond just breast cancer awareness, this campaign also offers the opportunity to showcase the extensive work we do at Reach for Recovery. Our services range from emotional support and hospital visits to practical aid, such as supplying temporary prostheses to women who have undergone mastectomies. With over 250 volunteers across the country, R4R provides a critical lifeline for women and their families as they navigate their breast cancer journey.

Euphoria’s innovative campaign allows us to reach even more people, raising awareness not just about early detection, but about the services and support we provide to the community.

The Role of Community: Why Business Support Matters

One of the most exciting aspects of this campaign is how it invites the business community to play a direct role in supporting breast cancer awareness. We are calling on local businesses—whether it’s a salon, coffee shop, or clothing store—to place these pink sticky notes in their establishments. In doing so, these businesses become active participants in spreading life-saving information to women in their communities.

Furthermore, Euphoria has extended the campaign by encouraging businesses to provide these sticky notes in languages like isiXhosa and isiZulu, enabling women in their workforce to bring these reminders back to their homes and communities. This simple yet effective initiative means that a single sticky note placed in a busy township salon can be seen by countless women who might otherwise not have access to critical breast health information.

By working together, we can bridge gaps in education and awareness, ensuring that all women, regardless of their background, are reminded to take action and schedule breast exams.

Amplifying Reach: Digital Campaign and Social Media

To complement the physical sticky note campaign, ‘Remember to Think Pink’ is also being amplified online through social media channels. This digital component plays a vital role in ensuring that the message reaches women who may not come across the sticky notes in physical locations. Euphoria’s marketing team has produced an informative video that highlights the campaign’s purpose and showcases how easy it is to get involved.

We encourage everyone to watch, like, and share these videos to help the message reach as many people as possible. Whether you’re sharing with friends, family, or your social media followers, every share makes a difference.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month: October 2024

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and there’s no better time to come together and take action. While awareness of breast cancer has grown, it’s crucial to remember that early detection saves lives. Through this campaign, we’re reminding women across South Africa to make breast health a priority and schedule their annual breast exams.

At Reach for Recovery, we are honored to partner with Euphoria Telecom on this vital initiative. The success of ‘Remember to Think Pink’ will help us extend our message to more communities and continue to provide the essential support services that so many breast cancer patients rely on.

Making a Difference, Together

The collaboration between Reach for Recovery and Euphoria Telecom on the ‘Remember to Think Pink’ campaign is an inspiring example of what can be achieved when non-profits and businesses come together for a common cause. As we enter Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October, we are excited to see the impact of this campaign across South Africa.

We encourage everyone to spread the message, watch the campaign video, and remind the women in your life to schedule their annual breast exams. Together, we can make a real difference in the fight against breast cancer.

Let’s continue to stick together and ensure that no woman faces breast cancer alone. Every reminder counts, every scan matters, and with early detection, more lives can be saved.

Support Reach for Recovery

To learn more about how you can support Reach for Recovery and contribute to breast cancer awareness efforts, please visit our website. Every donation helps us continue to provide essential services to women across South Africa.