Maryland students get manicures to raise breast cancer awareness.

College Park, Md., – Beauty is not often associated with charity, but for 200 University of Maryland students, having a manicure was a means to benefit the fight against breast cancer.

"Manicure for the Cure," an initiative born at Princeton University, is being replicated on numerous college campuses and is raising both critical awareness of breast cancer and important funding to mount a fight against the illness.

The College Park initiative was the product of the efforts of a number of campus organizations working in concert. Maryland Hillel, the Jewish Learning Initiative, the Jewish Social Action Committee, the AEPhi sorority, and Tzedek, all partnered together to organize and co-sponsor the program. The broad organizational buy-in ensured that the event gained significant support and visibility on the campus.

"It was wonderful to see students work to raise awareness of this important issue," said Naomi Kohl, co-director of the Jewish Learning Initiative at Maryland Hillel and the leading force behind the University of Maryland’s "Manicure For A Cure." "Breast cancer does not gain enough exposure, especially amongst young Jewish women who are susceptible to the disease. We hope that students had fun, enjoyed benefiting others, but most importantly became conscious of breast cancer."

Every student was required to pay a minimum of $10 for their manicure. All proceeds will go to Sharsheret, www.sharsheret.org, a national organization of cancer survivors dedicated to addressing the unique concerns of young Jewish women facing breast cancer.  Sharsheret, Hebrew for "chain," links young women in their fight against breast cancer so they can learn and support each other in their time of need.
 
The organizers are particularly grateful to the American Beauty School and Essie Cosmetics for their generous support and sponsorship.

Submitted by University of Maryland Hillel