Why We Donate 2% of Every Pearl Sale to Cancer Research
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More Than Just a Beautiful Necklace
When you hold a freshwater pearl in your hands, you are holding something that took nature months or even years to create. No two are identical. Each one formed slowly, quietly, layer by layer, shaped by water and time into something luminescent and entirely its own.
That is a beautiful thing on its own. But at The Freshwater Pearl Company, every pearl we sell carries something more than beauty. It carries a pledge.
2% of every sale we make goes directly to cancer research. Not sometimes. Not just in October. Every order, every day, all year long.
This post is about why we do that, where that money goes, and why we believe that the things we choose to spend money on say something real about what we care about.
Where the 2% Pledge Comes From
The Freshwater Pearl Company was founded with a purpose built into its foundation, not added as an afterthought. Our founder, Brian Schultz, started this company to honor the legacy of his mother, Laurene Schultz, who passed away in 2020 after a long and courageous battle with breast cancer.
Laurene was a remarkable woman. She spent years volunteering with breast cancer organizations, walking annually in the American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk, and raising funds through personal letters she wrote to everyone she knew. She achieved Pacesetter status at her local chapter year after year, meaning she consistently exceeded her fundraising goals. She was a member of Reach to Recovery and the Circle of Friends at her local hospital. She did not just survive cancer. She devoted herself to making sure others had more support than she did when she first faced it.
She also loved pearls.
Brian launched The Freshwater Pearl Company as a way to keep her advocacy alive, to honor the spirit she poured into the cause, and to give customers a way to be part of something meaningful every time they make a purchase.
One of Laurene's favorite quotes was: "When life gives you 100 reasons to cry, show life 1,000 reasons to smile." That spirit lives in every piece we make.
October: Breast Cancer Awareness Month and International Day
Every October, the world turns its attention to breast cancer awareness. Pink ribbons appear. Communities organize walks. Conversations that happen quietly all year finally get louder. And on October 31, International Breast Cancer Awareness Day brings that conversation to a global stage, connecting patients, survivors, researchers, and advocates from every corner of the world.
These are the statistics behind why it matters so deeply:
| Statistic | What it means |
|---|---|
|
2.3M+
|
New breast cancer diagnoses globally every year, making it the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women worldwide. Source: WHO, 2022 |
|
1 in 8
|
Women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in their lifetime. Source: American Cancer Society |
|
99%
|
Five-year survival rate when breast cancer is caught at Stage 1, compared to 28% at Stage 4. Early detection funded by research saves lives. Source: American Cancer Society |
|
Oct 31
|
International Breast Cancer Awareness Day. A global observance that unites communities in the fight for better research, access, and outcomes. Observed worldwide |
What the 2% Pledge Actually Means
We want to be clear and specific about this, because vague giving claims are one of the fastest ways to lose the trust of the people who matter most.
Our 2% is calculated on the total sale price, not on profit. That means:
• You spend $50 on a pearl bracelet, $1.00 goes to cancer research
• You spend $100 on a necklace, $2.00 goes to cancer research
• You spend $250 on a bridal set, $5.00 goes to cancer research
• You spend $500 gifting jewellery for a group, $10.00 goes to cancer research
It applies to every completed order. There is no minimum spend threshold. There is no limited window. It is not a special October promotion. It is simply how we operate.
The donation goes to pioneering cancer centres and organizations on the leading edge of research, treatment, care, and the race for a cure. These are the institutions working to make the survival statistics better for the next generation of patients.We donate 2% of gross sales to cancer research and non-profit organizations supporting women and families in need. Every single order counts.
What Cancer Research Actually Funds
It can be hard to picture where research money goes when you are standing in front of a jewelry display or scrolling through a product page. Here is what it concretely supports:
• Clinical trials that give patients access to new treatment options before those options are publicly available, sometimes years before approval
• Studies into why some cancers return after remission, one of the most difficult and heart-breaking aspects of the disease for patients and families
• Earlier and more accurate detection technologies that catch cancer at the most treatable stages, when survival rates are dramatically higher
• Support programs that help patients and caregivers navigate the financial, logistical, and emotional weight of a diagnosis
• Community outreach that reaches populations with historically lower screening rates, reducing late-stage diagnoses in underserved communities
None of this happens without sustained, consistent funding. Large one-time donations matter. But so does the steady accumulation of smaller contributions, made consistently, from people who decided to make their everyday purchases mean something.
That is exactly what every customer who buys from us is doing.
What Our Community Says
We share these not as a promotional tactic but because they say something real about why the mission resonates with the people who find us:
"Bought two for gifts. I already gave one to my daughter and she is in love with it. I'm going to get 2-3 more for future giving. And how wonderful of you to support your Mom's cancer charity!" Judy Mori, verified customer
"I read the story about how this company came to be and it is very meaningful to me. I am glad that some of the proceeds go to such a good cause. You will love what you choose and it comes in packaging that would make a beautiful gift to others." Verified customer, The Freshwater Pearl Company
"The personal service I received from Brian was above and beyond any service I have received. He really was wonderful. A hands on, kind and caring owner." Verified customer, Marrianne Leather Multi-Strand Freshwater Pearl Necklace
Over 1,330 verified customers have left reviews on our site, with 93% giving us five stars. That number matters to us. But so do the words inside the reviews, the stories people share about who they bought for, what the piece meant, and why the giving-back mission stayed with them.
We Give Every Month, Not Just October
There is a version of cause-marketing that makes us uncomfortable. Brands that release a pink product in October and consider the work done. A ribbon on a label, a limited edition colorway, and then November 1 arrives and the conversation disappears.
That is not what this is.
Breast cancer does not have a season. Patients go through treatment in January. Families receive diagnoses in March. Researchers work in July. Caregivers show up every single day of the year.
So do we.
The 2% pledge was not built for October. It was built into the company from day one, as a permanent commitment, because honoring the people we love does not fit neatly into a 31-day calendar window.
The pink ribbons come down in November. Our commitment does not.
How to Make Your Purchase Count This October
If you are reading this in October and looking for a way to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month, or International Breast Cancer Awareness Day on October 31, here are four ways to make a purchase that means something:
1. Buy something you will genuinely love and wear. Our pieces start at $45 and are made for real, everyday life. A piece that stays in a drawer helps no one. A piece you reach for again and again, that you get complimented on, that sparks a conversation about why you chose it, that is a piece doing its job.
2. Give it as a gift with a story. If someone in your life has been touched by breast cancer, a piece of jewelry from a company that gives back to the cause carries a meaning that goes beyond the price tag. It says you were paying attention.
3. Give a gift card so someone can choose for themselves. We offer gift cards starting at $50, so the recipient gets the joy of choosing, with the knowledge that their selection will contribute to cancer research.
4. Come back in November. And in February. And in July. The giving never stops, and neither does our gratitude for the community that makes it possible.
Our full collection is available at thefreshwaterpearlcompany.com. Free domestic shipping on orders over $110. Every piece, every day, carries the 2% pledge.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is International Breast Cancer Awareness Day?
International Breast Cancer Awareness Day is observed on October 31 each year. It is a globally recognized health observance that calls for continued investment in breast cancer research, equitable access to early detection and treatment, and solidarity with patients and survivors worldwide. While Breast Cancer Awareness Month covers all of October in the United States, October 31 serves as the international focal point recognized across many countries.
Is The Freshwater Pearl Company 2% donation taken from the sale price or from profit?
It is taken from the total sale price, not profit. If you spend $100 with us, $2.00 goes to cancer research, regardless of our costs or margins. We structured it this way intentionally because the pledge is a commitment to the cause, not a residual benefit after our own expenses are covered.
Which cancer organizations does The Freshwater Pearl Company donate to?
We donate to pioneering cancer centers and nonprofit organizations on the leading edge of research, treatment, care, and the race for a cure. We align with organizations that reflect the advocacy work that inspired this company, including those within the American Cancer Society network.
Does the 2% giving apply only during October or Breast Cancer Awareness Month?
No. The 2% applies to every completed order, every day of the year. October is when we speak about it more publicly, but the giving itself is constant. It is part of how we operate, not a seasonal campaign.
Why does The Freshwater Pearl Company focus on cancer research specifically?
Because this company was founded to honor the legacy of someone who devoted herself to this cause. Our founder, Brian Schultz, created The Freshwater Pearl Company to keep that spirit of giving alive through the business itself. Cancer research is not a cause we adopted for marketing purposes. It is the reason the company exists.
Why freshwater baroque pearls?
Because our founder's mother loved pearls, and because freshwater baroque pearls capture something true: every single one is different, shaped by nature over time into something unique and luminescent. No two are identical. They are beautiful precisely because they are not manufactured to a template. That felt like exactly the right thing to build a company around.
