By Jennifer Kohlhepp, Staff Writer
WEST WINDSOR — They’re horses of a different color at P.F. Chang’s in the Market
Fair Mall this month.
The majestic 11-foot horses that greet guests as they enter the Chinese bistro will
be pink throughout the month of October for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. P.F. Chang’s
invited its staff and customers to paint the horses during a special event to raise
awareness about breast cancer from 3-7 p.m. Tuesday.
“Breast cancer is an illness that affects everyone,” Tom Schaut, the restaurant’s
front house manager said. “Even if you don’t have a person in your life that is affected
you know someone who does.”
Mr. Schaut said that P.F. Chang’s restaurants across the country are painting their
horses pink in solidarity as part of the fight against breast cancer.
“Even the restaurants that don’t have horses are getting small horses to paint and
place at the front desk,” he said.
The paint used on the statues is water-soluble and will not damage the horses.
Employees will protect the paint job throughout the month, placing tarps over the statues
during bad weather and touching them up when necessary, according to Mr. Schaut.
“It’s very exciting to get to see,” Thomas McNulty, the restaurant’s operations
partner, said while watching employees and guests paint the statues pink. “It’s great that
we’re getting a lot of support from the team and the community as well. It’s a great
opportunity for us to partner with the National Breast Cancer Foundation.”
P.F. Chang’s has teamed up with the National Breast Cancer Foundation to raise up
to $100,000 in the fight against the disease. Throughout the month, anyone who posts a
selfie with the hashtag #PaintPFChangsPink or orders a sushi roll at P.F. Chang’s will
generate a $1 donation toward the cause.
Wearing a T-shirt that read, “Let’s fight breast cancer one selfie or sushi roll at
a time,” P.F. Chang’s employee Danielle DiTarando was helping 2-year-old Nora Samolchuck
paint one of the horse’s legs pink.
“I think it’s pretty special,” Ms. DiTarando said. “It’s pretty neat that we get to
do something like this. It brings such awareness.”
P.F. Chang’s Chief Executive Officer Rick Federico said P.F. Chang’s is proud to
support the National Breast Cancer Foundation, which works to save lives by providing help
and inspiring hope to those affected by breast cancer through early detection, education,
and support services.
“As our iconic warrior horses are a representation of strength, painting and
decorating them pink reinforces the support our entire organization has for breast cancer
fighters and survivors across the country,” Mr. Federico said.
There are two ways for people to join in and help reach P.F. Chang’s goal of
$100,000. To automatically contribute $1 to the National Breast Cancer Foundation through
Oct. 31, take a selfie in front of the pink horse(s) and upload it to Facebook, Twitter, or
Instagram with the hashtag #PaintPFChangsPink or purchase a “Spicy Tuna Roll” or
“California Roll” at any P.F. Chang’s location.
“We are excited to partner with P.F. Chang’s this October through their Paint P.F.
Chang’s Pink promotion,” National Breast Cancer Foundation Founder and CEO Janelle Hail
said. “The funds they raise will help us provide free mammograms and early detection
services for women in need in all 50 states.”
To find out more about the campaign and view a gallery of photos from guests
helping to raise donations with the hashtag #PaintPFChangsPink, visit
www.pfchangs.com/PaintPFChangsPink.
For more information about breast cancer, early detection and the services the
National Breast Cancer Foundation provides, visit www.nbcf.org.
