by Cynthia R.
One in eight women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. In 2025, it is estimated that over 376,000 women and over 2,000 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer.
Since 2007, ACE Cash Express has proudly partnered with National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) to provide resources, raise awareness, and support those affected by breast cancer. Together, we aim to inspire hope and make a difference.
What Is Breast Cancer Awareness Month?
With pink-ribbon reminders everywhere, Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM) is visible each October. It’s a global campaign to raise awareness for breast cancer, increase screenings, and provide support to patients and survivors. According to NBCF, breast cancer-related deaths have been reduced by 44% since it was started in 1985.
Every year, BCAM takes place in October to honor early advocates of the disease and coincide with global research events. The pink ribbon is commonly seen throughout this month, serving as a symbol of hope and action. Here at ACE, a brand of Populus Financial Group™, we lovingly refer to it as Pink Month!
Key dates designed to raise awareness of specific groups within the breast cancer community include:
- October 2: Previvor Day – For people with a hereditary risk of cancer who have not yet been diagnosed but have taken proactive steps to reduce their risk.
- October 13: Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day – A day to support those living with Stage 4 breast cancer, in which cancer has spread to other parts of the body.
- October 17: National Mammography Day – A reminder and encouragement to schedule a mammogram for early breast cancer detection.
- October 17 - 23: Men’s Breast Cancer Awareness Week – Dedicated to raising awareness that men can get breast cancer too. Lack of awareness and stigma can be barriers to detection and care in men, trans, and non-binary people.
Our History with NBCF
Each October, ACE stores across the country mobilize for our Pink Month fundraising campaign supporting NBCF’s mission to provide help and inspire hope to those affected by breast cancer through early detection, education, and support services. Populus Financial Group has partnered with Ouro Global, Inc., to donate more than $9 million in the past 18 years, which has helped provide 450,000+ free breast health services to women in need including screenings and diagnostics, patient navigation, and education.
In addition to generous customer and employee donations during Pink Month, we raise money for NBCF year-round with purchases made using the Flare Account® Pink Debit Card and the Pink ACE Elite® Visa® Prepaid Debit Card.1 Porte® Accountholders who choose NBCF as their charity to support2 also contribute to supporting those facing breast cancer.
Why NBCF?
NBCF’s mission is to help women by providing help and inspiring hope to those affected by breast cancer through early detection, education, and support service programs around the country, such as:
- National Mammography Program – Partners with medical facilities nationwide to provide free mammograms to underserved women.
- Patient Navigator Program – Helps patients navigate the complex cancer care system to ensure timely diagnosis, treatment, and support.
- Patient Relief Program – Partners with hospitals to ease the cost of breast cancer treatment.
Our corporate giving program, ACE Community Fund, works with transformative charities like NBCF to improve the quality of life in the communities we serve. Just as ACE strives to empower consumers with financial services that make life easier, NBCF empowers women with access to early detection and education.
How We Show Our Support
Over the years, ACE has shown its support for breast cancer awareness through donations, fundraising campaigns, and hands-on volunteer efforts.
Generous Donations
During the 2024-25 campaign window, ACE raised $577,304 for NBCF. These funds came from contributions by customers and employees, as well as proceeds from the Pink ACE Flare®1, Pink ACE Elite®Visa®1, and Porte2 cards.
Pink Month
If you walk into an ACE store near you in October, you’ll find it decked out in pink themes to encourage donations for NBCF. Customers who donate $2 will receive a pink wristband as a thank-you and a tangible way to show their support. Annual donations regularly top $200,000 across all ACE stores during Pink Month.
NBCF HOPE Kit Packing
ACE employees also take part in assembling HOPE Kits with NBCF – care packages that NBCF sends directly to women undergoing breast cancer treatment. Each one includes comforting items like fuzzy socks, a tumbler, tea, unscented lotion, lip balm, a HOPE journal, an inspirational bracelet, and educational resources. These gifts are designed to provide encouragement during a difficult journey and remind women they’re not alone.
Why NBCF HOPE Kit Packing Matters
During the NBCF HOPE Kit packing sessions, we write letters of encouragement to go in each HOPE Kit. As a volunteer, you feel more connected to the patient while writing, and recipients tell NBCF they really enjoy the personalized message.
A breast cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming, and we hope these small reminders can make a difference in someone’s day. By partnering with NBCF, we want to show those affected that there’s a community standing behind them.
How You Can Help
Do you want to make a difference? Here’s how to help during BCAM:
- Visit an ACE store during Pink Month to donate and receive your wristband.
- Choose a Pink Card option,3 like the Flare Account® or ACE Elite® Visa® Prepaid Debit Card.
- Select National Breast Cancer Foundation as your charity in the Porte® app.2
- Give directly to NBCF, supporting programs that provide education, mammograms, and HOPE Kits nationwide.
Every action, no matter how small, helps bring hope to women and families impacted by breast cancer. With your support, together we can make a difference in the lives of those in need.
This blog is not intended to provide any tax, legal, financial planning, insurance, accounting, investment, or any other kind of professional advice or services. To make sure that any information or suggestions in this blog fit your particular circumstances, you should consult with an appropriate tax or legal professional before taking action based on any suggestions or information that we provide.
SOURCES:
- Breast Cancer Information, Support & Donations - National Breast Cancer Foundation
- National Mammography Program - National Breast Cancer Foundation
- Patient Navigator Program - National Breast Cancer Foundation
- Patient Relief Program - National Breast Cancer Foundation
- HOPE Kit - National Breast Cancer Foundation
1. ACE Cash Express and Ouro Global, Inc. donate a percentage of every purchase transaction made with the Flare Account® Pink Debit Card or Pink ACE Elite® Visa® Prepaid Debit Card (up to $350,000 per year) to National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc.®, a 501(c)(3) organization. Pathward®, National Association, and Visa are not affiliated in any way with the program and neither endorses nor sponsors it.
2. After selecting a charity through your Mobile App, Populus Financial Group will donate 0.05% of every debit card purchase transaction, subject to certain terms and conditions described in the mobile app, made with your Porte Debit Card to a charity selected by you through the Mobile App. Ouro Global, Inc., Pathward, N.A., and Visa are not affiliated in any way with this offer and do not endorse or sponsor this offer.
3. IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR OPENING A CARD OR DEPOSIT ACCOUNT: To help the federal government fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering activities, the USA PATRIOT Act requires us to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person who opens an Account. WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU: When you open an Account, we will ask for your name, address, date of birth, and your government ID number. We may also ask to see a copy of your driver’s license or other documents at any time. All Accounts are opened subject to our ability to verify your identity by requiring acceptable types of identification. We may validate the information you provide us to ensure we have a reasonable belief of your identity. If we are not able to verify your identity to our satisfaction, we will not open your Account or we may close the Account if it was previously funded. Your Account is subject to fraud prevention restrictions at any time, with or without notice. Residents of Vermont are ineligible to open a Card Account.
The ACE Elite® Visa® Prepaid Debit Card is issued by Pathward, N.A., Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. Ouro Global, Inc. is a registered agent of Pathward, N.A. Card can be used everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted. Use of the Card Account is subject to activation, ID verification, and funds availability. Transaction fees, terms, and conditions apply to the use and reloading of the Card Account. See the Cardholder Agreement for details.
The Flare Account® is a demand deposit account established by Pathward, N.A., Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. Ouro Global, Inc. is a service provider to Pathward, N.A.
Porte is a deposit account established by Pathward, N.A., Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. Certain products and services may be licensed under U.S. Patent Nos. 6,000,608 and 6,189,787. Card can be used everywhere Visa® debit cards are accepted.
