Cycling champion Lance Armstrong made 鈥渓ivestrong鈥� yellow wristbands popular through his foundation for cancer education and research.
Proceeds from the sale of pink rubber bracelets go to the Susan B. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. There鈥檚 even a bracelet for tsunami relief and another denouncing racism.
Read the related story,
Now, a child-advocacy organization in Florida is tapping into the socially conscious fashion trend by selling orange bands to raise money to support high-quality preschools.
鈥淥h my God, it鈥檚 been overwhelming,鈥� Kim Gwynn, the campaign assistant at the Children鈥檚 Campaign in Tallahassee, Fla., said about the demand for the bracelets. 鈥淓verybody in early-childhood [education] wants one. We don鈥檛 want to squelch it because it鈥檚 been such a positive thing.鈥�
Imprinted on the bands is the phrase 鈥淔or the kids,鈥� as well as the campaign鈥檚 Web site, .
Money raised from the sale of the bands is used to promote improvements to Florida鈥檚 universal pre-K program, which will get under way this summer. Ms. Gwynn said the bracelets are not meant to be a sign of protest against inadequate funding and low standards, but instead to generate awareness about high-quality preschool.
鈥淲e鈥檙e not reacting to the present situation as much as we are encouraging people who are interested to understand that we鈥檙e not there yet,鈥� she said.
Popular Color
The idea for the bands, which sell for $21 for a pack of 10, came when Linda Alexionok, the universal-prekindergarten director for the organization, and Amanda Busch, its coordinator of policy administration, were brainstorming with some interns.
They were trying to think of a way to attract attention to their cause during 鈥淐hildren鈥檚 Week,鈥� an annual event organized by the United Way of Florida and held during the state鈥檚 legislative session. This year鈥檚 activities, which focus on issues affecting children and families, began April 1.
Ms. Gwynn said she and others at the Children鈥檚 Campaign have been asked if they chose orange because the color is associated with the tropical fruit Florida is famous for growing. But she said that鈥檚 not the case. 鈥淲e just picked orange because it鈥檚 bright,鈥� she said. 鈥淎nd kids like it.鈥�
