Breast Wishes For Christmas: Another Big Success

Breast Friends Christmas Cookbook

Breast Friends Christmas Cookbook

They’ve already raised more than a million dollars to support breast cancer research through sales of a best-selling series of cookbooks. And if that’s not enough, the Breast Friends recently managed to slay a group of “dragons”  — in their own den!

In early December, on an episode of the CBC television show “Dragons’ Den”, Foam Lake, Saskatchewan’s ten Breast Friends asked the dragons for a $25,000 investment to help them market their cookbooks, which includes the newest addition to the line-up: “Breast Wishes for Christmas”. The five venture capitalists were so impressed with — and moved by — the ladies’ selfless efforts that they offered $50,000 to help the Breast Friends cause.

That successful Canadian TV appearance was recently augmented by publicity in not one, but TWO European magazines. The Breast Friends were featured in the November 2010 issue of Gourmand Magazine, a Spanish publication (dedicated to cookbooks) that is widely distributed in Europe. The group’s success was also covered in the December 2010 issue of Logberg Heimskringla, an Icelandic newspaper serving North America.

A few months from now, Breast Friends will take their inspiring story — and their cookbooks — worldwide when they participate in the 2011 Paris Cookbook Fair, the first international exhibition of fundraising cookbooks, which will feature entrants from 91 countries across the globe.

Factoring in their growing profile, the success of the Dragons’ Den appearance, and the enduring popularity of their coobooks, the Breast Friends have good reason for optimism in the future. In fact, Rhonda Pineau, Sales and Marketing Manager of Gateway Publishing’s cookbooks department notes that the group ordered 20,000 copies of their new book “Breast Wishes for Christmas” last summer and then ordered 20,000 more thanks to the Dragon’s support.

“We’re so happy for the Breast Friends and their continuing success,” says Rhonda. “They are truly an inspiration and we’re very proud to have been able to help them make their dreams into a reality. We wish them all the best and look forward to even greater things in the year ahead!”

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Organic Food Cookbook Fundraiser In B.C. Supports School’s Unique Hot Lunch Program

Crawford Bay School Lunch Program Cookbook

Crawford Bay School Lunch Program Cookbook

Healthy, balanced meals made with locally grown, organic ingredients are on the menu every day at Crawford Bay Elementary-Secondary School in south-eastern British Columbia. Thanks to a nutrition-focused and sustainable hot lunch program created by caring parents in 2004, students at this small community school are not only well-nourished, they are appreciative, adventurous eaters who are environmentally aware.

This lunch program is admired throughout the community and has also been praised and recognized by the Interior Health Authority,” says Gina Medhurst, PAC Chair at Crawford Bay School. She notes that what doesn’t get eaten is either used for the next day’s meal or gets added to the school’s compost bin. The program’s sustainable nature is a perfect fit for a school with a new LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold building and a penchant for innovative ideas.

To help maintain hot lunch affordability — and the school’s “no child goes unfed” policy — a cookbook fundraiser was recently launched. Not surprisingly, the 134-page book titled “The C-Bay Lunch Café presents…the east shore eats…good!” is full of delicious, healthy recipes that can be made entirely with organic food.

Stephanie Sempf, who researched and compiled the 300-recipe cookbook, notes that many families in the area have their own gardens, allowing their meals to be truly “homemade”. Ms. Sempf adds that the books, which are being sold at the school, through some local businesses, and at seasonal craft fairs, have been well-received. “Sales have been good. This is a worthwhile fundraising project and would be worth doing again.” 

“The hot lunch program at Crawford Bay is awesome,” says Rhonda Pineau, Sales and Marketing Manager of Gateway Publishing’s cookbooks department. “From the healthy choices to the local and organic foods that they prepare for the kids, it’s easy to tell that this is one ‘green’ community. It makes their fundraising cookbook even more unique. 

Ms. Sempf adds that she was particularly impressed by the customer service she received at Gateway: “They were AMAZING, and everyone I spoke to was nothing but helpful. Any question that I had was answered while I was on the phone and everyone is really knowledgeable.”

Is your organization looking for an effective way to raise money? Gateway Publishing has helped thousands of organizations achieve their goals with fundraising cookbooks. Click now to estimate the fundraising potential of your project.