For 20 years, the Estee Lauder Company has been at the forefront of the fight against breast cancer. Through multiple fundraisers and awareness campaigns they have spread the all-important message of early detection in an effort to save lives.
That corporate commitment was on display at the Peter C. Collins Soccer Park on Sunday, where a dozen teams of Estee Lauder employees and executives, and local U14 and U15 girls teams from the Long Island Junior Soccer League took part in a series of friendlies to support the cause.
“The focus today is on fun and on creating breast cancer awareness,” said Carlos Ospina, an Estee employee and organizer
of the event. “The assistance we get from the LIJSL, the park staff, who does a great job for us, and the referees, who volunteer their time, is just extraordinary.”
The Lynbrook/East Rockaway Lizards, who are coached by Ospina, the East Meadow Stingrays, and teams from Hicksville, Sound Beach, Brentwood, and Carle Place among others were in attendance. There was a game that pitted VP’s and executives from Estee against a team of assemblers. Another team was made up of employees of the company’s plant down in Pennsylvania, who rented a bus and left at 5 am to be on Long Island for the event.
“At the end of the day, we had a lot of fun and accomplished our goal of raising money and awareness for breast cancer research,” Ospina said. “As employees of Estee Lauder Companies, we are very committed to Mrs. Evelyn Lauder’s vision to find a cure for breast cancer. It was great to see the parents, coaches, and players embrace that as well. We have formed a great relationship with the LIJSL, the Soccer Park staff, and the referees, and we hope to do even more together in the future.”
This is the eighth year that the event has taken place at the Soccer Park, which is donated by the LIJSL for the event. It is the first year that youth teams have taken part, and there are future plans being discussed for a women’s division and a clinic for younger players.
Teams make a flat donation to participate in the event, which is part of several fundraisers here on Long Island during the summer, including a volleyball tournament and a golf outing. The $1,700 raised on Sunday adds to the more than $8.5 million that the Estee Lauder Company has raised for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, and fundraising efforts will continue right through October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
For more information on Estee Lauder’s Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign click here. If you or your team will be taking part in a Breast Cancer Awareness effort or event during the upcoming season, please let us know by clicking here so we can get the word out and help find a cure for this deadly disease.