Liberty University Chefs Go Pink to Support Breast Cancer Awareness

Liberty University Dining is taking a meaningful stand this October, as Campus Chef Perry Ford and his team don pink chef coats every Friday in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Chef Ford, a veteran who proudly wears a red coat on Fridays as part of Sodexo’s Honor Program for military members, saw an opportunity to extend that sense of pride and purpose in a new direction:

“Over the years, I’ve seen many organizations show their support for Breast Cancer Awareness, and I wanted to find a meaningful way for us here at Liberty to do the same,” said Ford. “We have several women on our staff who are survivors, as well as family members of our chef team who have also overcome this disease. This initiative is something I’ve been passionate about for years.”

This first year, the focus is on visibility and community connection. The chefs, resident dining front-of-house management, and retail managers across Liberty’s campus are wearing their pink coats once a week throughout October. The goal is simple: spark conversations and raise awareness about breast cancer.

Ford shared that the response has already been overwhelmingly positive.

“The faculty and students at Liberty have been loving it—they’ve even started wearing pink themselves,” Ford said. “It’s been incredible to see how something this small can bring people together.”

Looking ahead, Ford hopes to involve Liberty’s marketing team to help amplify the message—encouraging the wider campus community to wear pink on the same days the dining team does.

“Ultimately, I’d like for this to become as meaningful and visible as Sodexo’s Honor Program for military members,” Ford added. “Next year, I’d love to recognize our survivors with something more personal—perhaps a dedicated coat rather than just a standard awareness pin.”