McMinnville Community Support Takes to the Streets

What comes to mind when you see the color pink? Years of association with the female gender has us seeing prom dresses and Barbies, lip gloss and nail colors. Today, however, much has changed regarding these traditional associations. Pink is a color now widely seen and accepted across all gender identities and not reserved for any particular group but one: Breast Cancer Awareness. What began in McMinnville as “Paint Mac Pink” has grown to become “Paint Yamhill County Pink.”

With Courage, a local nonprofit for breast cancer support, hosts their annual Pink Light Campaign throughout the month of October each year. With Courage founder, executive director and two-time breast cancer survivor Caitlin Sticka, along with several other women who were diagnosed around the same time, had a group of friends who wanted to offer support. One of the friends was Isaac Kearns of C and D Landscape who ran the company’s outdoor holiday lighting, décor and display installations. Isaac started out decorating a few trees around McMinnville in pink, which in 2014 were sponsored by a small number of donations from community members. Encouraged by the enthusiastic participation, Caitlin and a few others thought, “We could do more of these.” Focusing on McMinnville at the time, about forty trees along Third Street were added to the program and “Paint Mac Pink” came to be.

The Pink Light Campaign continued to expand into the communities of Newberg, Dayton, Yamhill, Amity, Carlton, Sheridan and others. Today, this poignant effort to raise funds for local breast cancer support has a waiting list for new sponsors. With a limited supply of lights and installations available, and most sponsors returning year after year, With Courage implemented the waitlist as an equitable way to triage sponsorships. It also serves to monitor interest, which in turn prompted With Courage to purchase more lights last year to accommodate additional participation.

Businesses and individuals who sponsor a pink-lit tree, décor or light display have the opportunity to feature their name, company logo or family crest as well as include “in honor/memory of” a loved one affected by breast cancer. Those who would like to show their support, but are unable to provide a sponsorship, can purchase individual pink lightbulbs on the With Courage website for $10 each to use at home on their porch.

With Courage is located at 906 N.E. 11th St., Ste. A, in McMinnville. Call 503-218-3703 for inquiries or email caitlin@withcourage.org. To join the waitlist, purchase merchandise, donate or find out more, visit withcourage.org.