As a five-year breast cancer survivor at the time, Kim Keene received the news no one ever wants to hear. The cancer had come back, and this time it metastasized to reach Stage 4.
When the outpouring of support from friends, family and larger community a couple of years ago, Keene got the idea to start Paint Pink Inc., a Norfolk-based nonprofit dedicated to providing financial assistance to those like her who just needed a little extra help. In its first year, the organization assisted more than a dozen people living with cancer, including a Norfolk police officer battling lung cancer.
On Sept. 16, Keene lost her battle. She was a beloved partner, mother, daughter, granddaughter, friend and light for the Hampton Roads community.
In the weeks before and after her passing, the mobilization of the community has been inspiring. Fundraising events already were planned throughout the month of October for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but there now are events all over town raising money for the cause. Local Waters Edge Winery placed a Paint Pink label on its Pink Moscato. A golf tournament just raised more than $20,000 in one day. Local bars and breweries are donating a portion of their proceeds during special events. Pink art exhibitions are popping up.
We sat down with Jo Ann Hughes, a dear friend of Keene’s and Paint Pink’s Acting President, to learn more about the mission of the organization, its current campaign and the legacy its founder left the Hampton Roads community.
What inspired Kim Keene to start Paint Pink Inc.?
Kim had to spend about two weeks in the hospital after she found out the cancer had returned. When she came home, she was unable to do the usual everyday tasks of life – simple things like walking the dog. Friends and family offered support and took on jobs from cooking and cleaning to taking care of the dogs. This kind of outpouring of love and support got Kim thinking about others that were not as fortunate to have such a community surrounding them. That inspired her to start Paint Pink.
Paint Pink provides financial assistance for people that are fighting cancer – any type of cancer. Maybe they need their house cleaned, maybe they need a meal delivered or someone to take them to a doctor’s appointment. We give them financial assistance for things that aren’t covered by insurance, so they can hire people to help them do the things that they can’t do while they focus on healing.
Where does the painting connection come in?
Kim was a wonderful artist who focused on painting. It gave her peace. Her idea was to paint and sell her art to raise funds for Paint Pink. Our first event was at the Starving Artist Café, a Norfolk café that she previously owned and displayed her artwork. A portion of the proceeds from each painting went to Paint Pink, which is how we started to build our finances.
Right before Kim’s cancer returned, she and her dear friend Laura Henderson, also an artist, opened a studio together at d’Art Center in Norfolk. They also obtained an office space for the two of them called “the Gallery at Paint Pink.” Kim’s artwork is no longer available for sale, but you are still able to buy Laura’s artwork with some of the proceeds going back to Paint Pink. We are working on getting prints of Kim’s paintings that would be available for sale.
Painting was Kim’s passion, but Paint Pink was her heart.
Tell us a little bit about Kim’s Krusade.
One of the first people we helped was a friend of hers, and her name was Amy. And so, Kim came up with Amy’s Army. When Nicole [Kim’s partner] came to us wanting to start a campaign in honor of Kim, Kim’s Krusade stuck. We set our initial goal at $50,000, and then someone threw out $75,000, and we ultimately said if we’re going to be a bear, let’s be a grizzly and go for $100,000.
In just about a month’s time, by Oct. 4, we hit $105,000, and we’ve raised our goal to $200,000. People may think it is unbelievable how quickly we reached our initial goal, but if you knew Kim, you knew that it was very believable. Kim never met a stranger. She always made you feel like you were the only person in the room with her. Paint Pink is Kim’s legacy. Kim’s Krusade is how we fulfill it.
What does the process look like for people to get support?
There’s a place where people can go to on the website if they’re fighting cancer and need financial assistance. They can fill out the application, and then someone from the board contacts the applicant. There’s usually two board members who informally sits down with the applicant, and we just get to know them, find out what their needs are and what support they need. We collect all that information, bring it back to the board and decide if and how we can help, and how much we can give.
Why is it important for you to carry on Kim’s legacy?
It’s been an honor to have known her and to have had her be a part of my life. She has taken all of us on this incredible journey with her, through her cancer fight. She has taught us to just pay it forward. Someone is in a situation more difficult than your own. That was Kim Keene. She was always thinking, “How can I help somebody else?” And that just says everything about her.
One of the times I went to see her… she said, “Jo, if this goes south for me, I want Paint Pink to continue.” And I said, “We’ve got you, girl, we got you.”
Painting was Kim’s passion, but Paint Pink was her heart.
For more information about Paint Pink Inc., visit www.paintpinkinc.org. Donations are accepted here. Follow it on Facebook and stay up to date on events and partnerships here.
If you’re in the area, witness the creativity and love firsthand at Kim’s Krusade Brunch and Auction Event on Sunday, Oct. 27 at d’Art Center (740 Boush St., Norfolk, VA 23510).
