In 2010 when the Alison’s Allies team was formed, I was an administrator in the Olathe School District. One of our Board of Education members at the time was Harlan C. Parker. Mr. Parker was also my insurance agent. Mr. Parker owns the Harlan C. Parker State Farm Agency and was a supporter of many, many initiatives in the community. In what I perceived as a bold move, I asked Mr. Parker if he was willing to sponsor the t-shirts for Alison’s Allies. Mr. Parker said YES! And from 2010 to the present Harlan Parker has sponsored the Alison’s Allies t-shirts for the annual walk/run! Harlan’s son, Jason, has joined his father in the business and now Harlan and Jason Parker both support the Alison’s Allies t-shirts!
Why is T-Shirt Sponsorship So Important? Having the Alison’s Allies t-shirts paid for 100% by the Parker State Farm Agency is so important to our fund-raising efforts. Sponsoring the t-shirts allows every dollar raised to go toward fund-raising efforts. If individuals had to pay for the Alison’s Allies t-shirts, that amount would be deducted from the total donation. But, with the support of the Parker State Farm Agency 100% of the money raised goes to the cause of breast cancer screening, health equity, care, and research.
Through the years, many designs have graced the Alison’s Allies t-shirts! Originally the t-shirts were designed by Joe Wisniewski of Gee-Wiz Printing. Upon Joe’s retirement, Gary Roles with Olathe T-Shirt has been assisting with the t-shirt printing.
HARLAN RECOGNIZED FOR HIS GIVING!
Congratulations 𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐋𝐀𝐍 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐊𝐄𝐑 State Farm Agency named 𝘾𝙤𝙧𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝘾𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙯𝙚𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙔𝙚𝙖𝙧 by the @OlatheChamber! Harlan is a faithful supporter of @AlisonsAllies. TU Harlan for all you do for others! Mr. Parker lives by “We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.” Winston Churchill
Harlan’s Wife Battled Cancer: At the time Alison’s Allies was formed, Harlan’s wife Vickie Creighton Parker was also a big supporter of Alison’s Allies. It was during these initial years that Vickie developed melanoma cancer. In 2013 after a courageous battle with melanoma, Vicki died. The Parkers support many initiatives related to cancer. For example, yearly, the Parkers are a corporate sponsor of the annual Outpacing Melanoma Walk/Run and field a team called Parker’s Pacesetters. Alison has been honored to walk on the team and support the efforts. The mission of the Outpacing Melanoma non-profit organization is to support education and to fund research related to melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. If you’d like to learn more about this important initiative, go to outpacingmelanoma.org.
