‘Granite Gives Pink’ Raises $583K for Breast Cancer Research Foundation

PR Newswire

QUINCY, Mass., Oct. 22, 2026

Employee-Led Fundraiser Builds on Record-Breaking Support for Breast Cancer Research

QUINCY, Mass., Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Granite Telecommunications, one of North America’s largest providers of communications and technology solutions to businesses and government agencies, today announced that its second annual “Granite Gives Pink” fundraiser raised $583,000 for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF), supporting research aimed at improving outcomes for people affected by breast cancer.

Karen Hale and Sana Sheikh, Granite's Chief People Officer, present a check to Donna McKay, President and CEO of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, during Granite Gives Pink 2026.

Granite donated $250 for every employee who wore pink on October 22, which the Hale family matched dollar for dollar, for a total of $500 per person in support of BCRF. Employees also contributed through raffle ticket purchases and Granite Gives Pink T-shirt sales. Together, these efforts helped raise more than $583,000 for BCRF, with more than 1,000 employees participating across the company.

Last year, the inaugural Granite Gives Pink fundraiser raised $500,000, bringing the campaign’s total contribution to BCRF to more than $1.08 million.

“Breast cancer affects so many people we love—our families, our friends and our colleagues—and we owe it to them to do everything we can to help,” said Rob Hale, President & CEO of Granite. “We are deeply grateful to the researchers whose dedication brings new hope to patients and to every Granite teammate who joined in this effort. Supporting BCRF is a privilege, and we hope this gift helps bring us closer to a day when no family has to face this disease.”

The event centered on a companywide town hall at Granite’s Quincy headquarters, featuring guest speakers, breast cancer awareness activities, engagement initiatives and a check presentation to BCRF. Special guests included Dr. Constance “Connie” Lehman, Founder & CEO of Clairity, Professor of Radiology at Harvard Medical School, breast imaging specialist at Massachusetts General Hospital and a BCRF-funded investigator since 2019, who discussed advances in artificial intelligence that enable mammograms to help predict future breast cancer risk, supporting more personalized approaches to screening and prevention.

“For many Granite teammates, wearing pink is personal. It’s a way to honor someone they love, remember someone they’ve lost or stand beside someone in treatment for breast cancer,” said Sana Sheikh, Chief People Officer at Granite. “I’m moved by the care our people show one another and by their willingness to turn that care into something larger. We’re grateful for the opportunity to support BCRF’s initiatives and all those who are counting on progress in breast cancer research.”

“We’re grateful to Granite and every employee who participated in Granite Gives Pink,” said BCRF CEO Donna McKay. “Behind every gift is a shared belief that better answers are possible for individuals and families facing breast cancer. Their generosity helps give researchers the resources to pursue those answers, and we’re honored to have Granite alongside us in this work.”

This year’s Granite Gives Pink fundraiser follows a landmark moment for BCRF. Earlier this month, Karen and Rob Hale announced a transformational $50 million gift to the Foundation, the largest single donation ever made to breast cancer research. The gift will help accelerate groundbreaking research across key areas including prevention, metastatic breast cancer, breast cancer in younger women, artificial intelligence and immunotherapy, while strengthening collaboration among leading researchers. Together, the Hale family’s gift and Granite employees’ support through Granite Gives Pink reflect a shared commitment to advancing research and improving outcomes for individuals affected by breast cancer.

Photos and video from Granite Gives Pink are available to media upon request.

Building a Tradition of Giving
Granite Gives Pink launched in 2025, when more than 800 Granite employees participated in the inaugural event, helping raise $500,000 for BCRF. With today’s donation, the total increases to more than $1.08 million.

The initiative extends Granite’s longstanding commitment to cancer research and builds on its signature “Saving by Shaving” campaign, which has raised more than $62.7 million over the past 13 years.

Philanthropy has been central to Granite’s culture since the company was founded. Under Hale’s leadership, Granite has contributed more than $400 million to charitable causes, including cancer research, healthcare, education and community development. Most recently, Karen and Rob Hale announced a record-breaking $50 million gift to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, the largest single gift ever made to breast cancer research, helping expand support for breakthrough research and innovation across multiple areas of the disease.

About the Breast Cancer Research Foundation
Breast cancer is a complex disease with no simple solution. Research is the key to stopping it in its tracks. Founded in 1993 by Evelyn H. Lauder, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation is the largest private funder of breast cancer research in the world. We invest in the best minds in science—and foster cross-disciplinary collaboration—to examine every aspect of the disease from prevention to metastasis. Our approach accelerates the entire field and moves us closer to the answers we urgently need. We can’t stop now. Join us in fueling the world’s most promising research. With you, we will be the end of breast cancer. Learn more and get involved at BCRF.org.

About Granite
Granite delivers advanced communications and technology solutions to businesses and government agencies throughout the United States and Canada. The company serves more than two-thirds of Fortune 100 companies and has 1.75 million voice and data lines under management, supporting more than 650,000 locations. Founded in 2002, Granite has grown to be one of the largest competitive telecommunications carriers in the U.S. by simplifying sourcing and management of voice, data and cellular service with a single point of contact and consolidated invoicing for all locations nationwide. Today, Granite supports customers with a wide range of services, including access, UCaaS, mobile voice and data, and MSP solutions for SD-WAN, monitoring and network management. Granite employs more than 2,220 people at its headquarters in Quincy, Massachusetts, and 10 regional offices nationwide. For more information, visit www.granitenet.com.

Granite teammates “go pink” in support of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation during the annual Granite Gives Pink campaign.

Granite Chief People Officer Sana Sheikh moderates a discussion with Breast Cancer Research Foundation President and CEO Donna McKay and Dr. Constance “Connie” Lehman, Founder and CEO of Clairity, on the future of breast cancer risk assessment, screening and prevention.