By Lexi Palma '13
The Siena College community is coming together to raise money for the organization Capital Region Action Against Breast Cancer, or CRAAB!, in a rather unique way. As people walk through campus, they will now notice large, pink “Recycle for the Cure Collection Cans." Tracy Boucher, one of the College’s most beloved Sodexo employees, came up with the idea of placing the large, pink recycling bins in the College's buildings in hopes of collecting and donating the money from the return of bottles and cans to CRAAB!
“This project is living the Franciscan belief to give back by turning garbage into pink gold,” Boucher said. “I don’t have Breast Cancer, but I have been an advocate for 20 years. I have lost a lot of family and friends due to breast cancer. Many who are survivors stop by and see me at New Hall." She said the goal is to raise $5,000 for CRAAB!, which was founded in 1997 by Siena Professor of Biology Patricia Brown, Ph.D. "We need 10,000 recyclables to meet our goal," Boucher said. "This is a project that can and will work if you believe in one bottle at a time.”
The pink "Recycle for the Cure Collection Cans” debuted at Siena's annual "Pink Zone" game, which is the annual women's basketball that celebrates breast cancer survivors and raises money for CRAAB! They are currently located in the Sarazen Studnet Union, Marcelle Athletic Complex and the lobby of New Hall. The cans accept any bottles with a 5-cent deposit, which includes water bottles and other beverage cans and bottles.
“The collection cans are a great way to raise money for a great cause,” Bernadette Schmidt ’13 said. “It’s something so simple, but it can make such a difference."
