Shades of Pink, Inc. is an Atlanta based 501c3 tax exempt non-profit organization serving residents of north Georgia. Shades of Pink, Inc. began in 2003 in an effort to fill some of the unmet needs of breast cancer survivors. We recognized a need to design a non-religious based program that merged the one common factor that is shared amongst breast cancer survivors and survivors in general, which is their faith. The organization also realized that breast cancer was not just something that happened to women (and men) in May or October; however much of the emphasis to educate and raise awareness is focused during these months; therefore we wanted to create a program that served survivors year round. Lastly, we realized that many of the women were choosing to participate in support groups, but we also knew that there were just as many women who were choosing not to join support groups that we needed to reach out to.

As a result, Shades of Pink (SOP) decided that survivors needed a place to "Celebrate their Survival" all year round through innovative programs and initiatives that served survivors after they have completed treatment and out grown traditional support groups. Prior to Shades of Pink there were not any non-profit organizations or programs that formally merged health and spirituality in a way that allowed survivors to celebrate their survival through song. There were support groups, groups of survivors that sang or danced or acted, but nothing as innovative as our signature program, the Shades of Pink Breast Cancer Survivors Mass Choir.

The overall mission of Shades of Pink is to uplift those surviving the disease, remember those lost to the disease and to promote a positive image of survivorship by changing the "face of breast cancer" to one that is positive. Our goal is to facilitate contact, interaction, self-awareness, learning, self-expression, communication, support and personal development among breast cancer survivors and the general public; as well as, increase the mammography screening rates among African American women through community education and awareness programs. At Shades of Pink, we believe that we are a place "Where Breast Cancer Survivors Celebrate Survival Through Song" by spreading a "A Message of Hope" while "Individually and Collectively Supporting Breast Cancer Survivors and their Families One Day at a Time."

Our name represents all of the different shades and hues that people around this world come in. At Shades of Pink, we embrace all breast cancer survivors and their families regardless of nationality, age, race, creed or religion. While "pink" is the signature color for the cause we so passionately support daily. We hope that women of all shades will begin to celebrate their survival as members of Shades of Pink.

Over the next couple of years we will continue teaching Survivors how to "Celebrate Survival" everyday by supporting one another before, during and after a diagnosis with programs such as community health advocacy, weekly meal program for those undergoing treatment, as well as image & beauty assistance programs. In addition to partnering with corporations to assist us with sponsoring our initiatives that will serve survivors, not just in Georgia, but across the country. Breast cancer is not a just a diseases that affects women in Georgia, but women worldwide and through our programs we feel that we will be able to reach both men and women in many non-traditional, but yet innovative, ways that educate, raise awareness and ultimately improve survival for those that may be diagnosed with breast cancer in her (or his) lifetime.