Go to any public place in Wisconsin, and chances are you will see someone wearing a pink Packers hat.
"We thought the campaign would be popular," said Rich Steffen, sales vice president for American Family Insurance. "Instead it proved to be phenomenal."
Indeed the Green Bay Packers and AFI announced on Friday that they sold more than 200,000 pink baseball caps and raised more than $1 million for breast cancer.
The totals far exceeded expectations. The goal was to raise $100,000, and the Packers Pro Shop ordered the hats in units of 20,000.
"It's been incredible how quickly we sold out of each shipment," said Kate Hogan, Packers director of retail operations.
Twelve charities will receive more than $80,000 each from the program. They include After Breast Cancer Diagnosis, Breast Cancer Recovery Foundation, Inc., Froedtert Hospital & Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Green Bay YWCA, Gundersen Lutheran - Norma J. Vinger Center for Breast Care, Marshfield Clinic, Ribbon of Hope Foundation, St. Mary's Hospital, St. Vincent Hospital Regional Cancer Center ,UW Comprehensive Cancer Treatment Center, Wisconsin Well Woman Program and the brand new Deanna Favre Hope Foundation.
Alarmed at the cost of breast cancer treatment, Deanna Favre, the wife of quarterback Brett Favre, started the latter charity to help indigent women receive breast cancer treatment.
When doctors diagnosed her with breast cancer in October of 2004, she searched for a reason.
"I truly thought God had a plan," she said.
Deanna, now in remission from breast cancer, sought a way to help others with the same affliction. Along with help from AFI, she spearheaded the campaign of selling the pink hats to raise money for breast cancer prevention, treatment, research and support.
The Packers Pro Shop has stocked the pink hats until November. The caps, priced at $15 with $5 going to charity remain available at the Packers Pro Shop.
