By Jared Buchholz
Special to The Woodruff Times
William and Kimberly Chapman founded Chapman Foundation, Inc. a decade ago to provide educational opportunities for USA based minority students who are hoping to further their education.
The couple’s desire to give back birthed from deep awareness of how much the Upstate community had taken part in the growth of their company and brand Chapman Products, the umbrella for the likes of hair care product lines Nairobi Professional and Congo Professional.
Currently, over $250,000 is given away each year in scholarships by the 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, which also delivers school supplies and to those in need.
The Chapman Foundation has continued to grow, partnering with the Urban League of the Upstate, Latinos United, and the Fountain Inn Police Department, while also supporting Historical Black Colleges and Universities through The HBCU Tour. The non-profit likewise hosts the annual PYNKALYCIOUS Breast Cancer Awareness Event at the Younts Center for Performing Arts in downtown Fountain Inn.
According to the event’s web page, “We strongly believe early detection is one of the most effective means of fighting breast cancer and are dedicated to getting this message out. We continue to hold strong to our mission, to bring awareness to this disease that has devastated families and taken the lives of so many of our loved ones. On this special day, we celebrate a mission of “Everything Pink” with an event full of transformation, hope, and style.”
Now in its seventh year, PYNKALYCIOUS raises funds for breast cancer research and survivors, in support of the Pearlie Harris Center for Breast Health, at Bon Secours St. Francis Eastside hospital in Greenville and Little Red Door Cancer Agency in Indianapolis, Ind.
The event hopes to raise awareness, while encouraging everyone impacted by the disease, with a message of hope in celebration of “Everything Pink.” Past years have included live music, empowering testimonials, food for all attendees, free mammogram screenings from the St. Francis Mobile Mammography RV, gift bags and giveaways – such as wigs for cancer survivors – a group walk through downtown Fountain Inn, and the closing bubble ceremony.
This year’s PYNKALYCIOUS will build on previous years and expand into a festival. According to Darren Martin, Director of Chapman Foundation, Inc., “Attendees can expect a lot of big changes. First off, we’ll have a massive state of the art sound stage for all the performances, and trust me, we’ve got quite the lineup. We’ll also have more entertainment for the kids, two or three of those bouncy houses. Little Sally and Johnny will have the time of their lives and be really exhausted by the end, which will give parents a pretty much free Saturday afterward. We view the family and community as a collective unit and are always trying to think of ways to benefit both.”
PYNKALYCIOUS will start at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 12th, at The Younts Center for Performing Arts, 315 N. Main St., Fountain Inn, beginning with the community walk and ending with the bubble ceremony at 2 p.m.
