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Standlee Turns Hay Bales Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Kimberly, Idaho – October 01, 2026 -- Standlee is dyeing its iconic green Grab & Go hay bales pink this October, with proceeds from limited-edition merchandise and the campaign supporting five breast cancer organizations nationwide.

Now in its sixth year, the Grab & Go to Give campaign marks the second year that pink-packaged bales have been distributed to retailers across the country. The forage inside remains identical to Standlee's standard product; only the packaging changes.

Five organizations will receive support from this year's campaign

Standlee's 2026 donations will benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Living Beyond Breast Cancer, Rein In Cancer, Rural Gone Urban Foundation, and Horses and Hope. These groups fund research, provide education and screening, and offer financial grants to women battling breast cancer, including those in the equine and Western agricultural communities.

Mike Maroone Honda's 9th Car Show Raises Funds for Local Habitat Builds

Colorado Springs – October 01, 2026 -- Mike Maroone Honda will host its 9th Annual Car Show on Sunday, October 11, from 10 AM to 3 PM at 1103 Academy Park Loop in Colorado Springs, with all proceeds benefiting Pikes Peak Habitat for Humanity.

Last year's show raised $34,000 for affordable housing
Building on that total, this year's event aims to draw car enthusiasts, families and community members for a day of fundraising tied to local housing projects.

Judges will award 18 trophies at 2 PM
Categories include People's Choice, Most Unique and Best Race Car, with winners announced during the afternoon ceremony.

Kids' activities and 35-plus vendors round out the day
Attendees can enjoy face painting, a low car limbo, a Hot Wheels play area, a Power Wheels race for children, tug-of-war competitions, live music, and food from more than 35 vendors.

Polar Plunge Trades Eagle Creek Park for New Adventure Park in 2027

Sheridan – October 01, 2026 -- Special Olympics Indiana is moving its signature Polar Plunge season showcase from Eagle Creek Park in Indianapolis to SKYLAKE Adventures, a new adventure park in Sheridan, starting in 2027.

SKYLAKE Adventures opened in June 2026 just north of Westfield's Grand Park Sports Campus. Its first phase included a six-acre manmade lagoon, white-sand beaches, floating obstacle courses and water slides. For winter, the venue will add a snow tubing hill, ice skating, a three-story ropes course and holiday activities to host the plunge.

Ramp access will let wheelchair users take the plunge

The new venue keeps Polar Plunge traditions intact, including costumes, teams and fundraising challenges. Ramp access to the water will create opportunities for individuals who use wheelchairs to participate.

Why You're Seeing More Picture Boards in Parks and Libraries

Rockville – October 01, 2026 -- More parks, libraries, and stadiums are installing large picture-based communication boards, and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) is using October's AAC Awareness Month to explain why they matter.

Communication boards are a form of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC)—typically large displays showing a dozen or more common words like "slide," "go," "bathroom," or "play." They let people with limited or unreliable speech communicate with others in public spaces. In the United States, more than 2 million people use AAC, ranging from gestures and facial expressions to picture boards and high-tech speech-generating devices.

HOTWORX Launches Pink Campaign for Military Women with Breast Cancer

New Orleans – October 01, 2026 -- HOTWORX, the infrared sauna fitness franchise with more than 900 studios worldwide, has kicked off its annual Workouts for Heroes campaign, running October 1 through November 30. All proceeds will go to the National Breast Cancer Foundation's Military Women's Patient Relief Fund, which covers non-medical expenses like childcare, lodging and transportation for military women undergoing breast cancer treatment.

Pink retail items fund the cause dollar by dollar

HOTWORX is selling limited-edition Pink Yoga Towels, Pink Yoga Mats and Pink Yoga Mat Holders at studios nationwide. The company will donate $1 for every towel and mat sold, plus $0.14 for every Pink Yoga Mat Slap Band purchased.

24 Animals Rescued From Cruelty Case in Rural Tennessee County

Chester County, Tenn. – October 01, 2026 -- Animal Rescue Corps (ARC) removed 24 surviving animals from a property in rural Chester County, Tennessee, after law enforcement requested emergency assistance with an animal cruelty case on Sept. 26, 2026.

Rescuers pulled 12 dogs, 10 cats and kittens, one rabbit and one goat from the property

Many of the animals were emaciated, chained or confined in small, dirty enclosures. Investigators at the scene also discovered the remains of multiple animals that did not survive.

Dallas ER Invites Public to Vote on Staff Pumpkin Contest Oct. 5-11

Dallas – September 30, 2026 -- Advance ER is opening its lobbies to community voting for its annual Staff Pumpkin Decorating Contest, with ballots open from Monday, October 5 through Sunday, October 11 at its Park Cities and Preston Hollow/Galleria locations.

Staff spent 14 days transforming blank pumpkins into displays

Undecorated pumpkins were set out in both lobbies on September 16, giving Advance ER staff two weeks to carve and paint their entries before public voting begins.

Families get treats while they vote

During voting week, kids can pick up candy and small gifts, and adults receive a complimentary first-aid kit for the car, limited to one per family. The first five children to vote at each location get a free squishy toy, also limited to one per family.

Indiana's New Spiceland Youth Campus Debuts With Sports and Culture Fest

Spiceland, Indiana – September 30, 2026 -- The Spiceland National Youth Campus officially opened its doors this past weekend with a culture and sports festival that drew young people, families and guests from across the United States.

Sports Teams Traveled Nationwide to Compete at the New Campus

Teams from around the country arrived in Spiceland, Indiana, to compete and connect during the opening weekend. The festival also featured live music, a fashion show, artisanal vendors and family-friendly activities, drawing attendees from all walks of life for a weekend centered on community and culture.

Nonprofits Launch 'No Barriers' Fitness Challenge for Disability Awareness Month

Austin, Texas – September 29, 2026 -- HealthCode and Professional Contract Services, Inc. (PCSI) are inviting people of all ages to join the "No Barriers" virtual activity challenge throughout October, timed to National Disability Employment Awareness Month.

Participants log miles or minutes on an online tracker starting October 1

Registration opens on the No Barriers sign-up page, where individuals or organizations can track walking, running, biking, rolling, or stretching activity. A program leaderboard updates throughout the month with results from participants worldwide. Employers and organizations can register separately at healthcode.org/organizations.

Hard Rock Launches 27th PINKTOBER Campaign for Breast Cancer Awareness

Hollywood, Fla. – September 28, 2026 -- Hard Rock International has kicked off its 27th annual PINKTOBER campaign, a monthlong fundraising push tied to Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October. The initiative spans Hard Rock's hotels, casinos, cafes, Rock Shops and digital platforms worldwide, directing proceeds to the Hard Rock Heals Foundation for breast cancer research and patient support. Since its launch, PINKTOBER has raised more than $15 million.

American Cancer Society returns as this year's partner

The Hard Rock Heals Foundation is again teaming with the American Cancer Society to fund advocacy, research and patient support programs. Stephanie Piimauna, Senior Vice President of People & Inclusion at Hard Rock International and Seminole Gaming, said the campaign reflects the brand's commitment to community and compassion.