The business community of Roslyn is going pink on Oct. 24 for a fundraiser organized by a local breast cancer survivor.
Robyn Jaslow of Roslyn Country Estates was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2001 and began raising funds through events such as the annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk at Jones Beach.
Now in remission, Jaslow incorporated her own foundation, Go With Courage, in 2011 to support various institutions and charities and a self-run program called We’ve Got Your Back, which Jaslow calls a “catchall designed to help everyone.”
“We send hot meals, help with memorial services, help to tutor children, rides to and from treatment, we send kids to camp at the JCC,” Jaslow said.
Since she began fundraising, Jaslow says, the business community of Roslyn has been supportive of her efforts.
“The entire idea originated because many of the stores asked me to have in-store fundraisers,” Jaslow said. “My response to all of them is that I can’t pick just one store, because all of them have been so wonderful to me.”
It was during a conversation with Leslie Cohen, owner of the clothing store Transitions, that Jaslow thought of a solution.
“We came up with the idea of a villagewide fundraiser,” Jaslow said.
That fundraiser, organized by and benefiting Go With Courage, will be held Thursday, Oct. 24, with over 20 participating business donating between 15 and 20 percent of the day’s profits to Go With Courage.
For Cohen, the day of shopping is the latest in a line of philanthropic days in her store.
“As a women’s clothing store, I find it very important to give back, especially to causes like breast cancer awareness,” Cohen said. “As a person, as a community member, as a woman, if you are able to, it’s almost an obligation, I think.”
Jaslow, who lives in Country Estates in Roslyn with her family, views the day as a way to give back to the community, and hopes that it will expand to become a yearly event.
“It’s a way for me to give back to a community that has absolutely embraced me, has supported my charitable efforts since the day I began,” Jaslow said. “I’m proud to live here in large part to the philanthropic base of the individuals who live here. We’re charitable here in Roslyn.”
Go With Courage’s inaugural shopping event will be on Thursday, Oct. 24, and will run from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., with participating restaurants running until their closing time.
Businesses participating include Transitions, Shag, Mixology, Jill Scherer Ltd., Imperial China, Revival Boutique, L’Amour Jewelry, The Coder School Roslyn, Salon Rock, Katherine Tess, Knit, Bout Boxing, Roslyn Salt Cave, Roslyn Wines and Liquors, Body Brite, Tina Demel, Roslyn Social, Shish Kebob Grill, Gatsby’s Landing, Diane’s Bakery Café, and Roslyn Landing. The day’s wine sponsor is Notorious Pink Rosé, and the Village of Roslyn will be suspending parking fees all day.
