ATLANTA — Thanks to the generosity of Atlas Roofing and roofing contractors around the country, more than $160,000 has been raised to fight against breast cancer through Atlas’ Summit 60® Pink initiative.

From Aug. 15 through Oct. 15, a portion of the proceeds of every roll of Summit 60 lightweight synthetic roof underlayment sold was donated to the Susan G. Komen breast cancer foundation.

"The goal of our Susan G. Komen Pink campaign was to provide much-needed awareness and funding for critical research and education," said Kirk Villar, vice president of sales and marketing for Atlas. "We are very proud of the funds we have raised through this partnership, and we will continue to donate our time and efforts to the fight against breast cancer."

To promote this campaign, Atlas released a special edition of its underlayment, Summit 60 Pink. The underlayment was embellished with pink ribbons, the international symbol of breast cancer awareness, and released just in time for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

"The special-edition rolls were a great way for Atlas and our contractors to show our dedication to the fight against breast cancer," said Tiara Searcy, content and digital marketing manager for Atlas. "Together, we can help make a difference."

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, breast cancer is the second most common cause of death for women among all races and ethnicities in the United States.

Breastcancer.org reports one in eight women (around 12 percent) will develop invasive breast cancer in their lifetime. Around 85 percent of breast cancers occur in women who have no previous family history of the disease.

In a Facebook Live post, Villar, along with Stan Bastek, national sales director at Atlas Roofing; Atlas Roofing President Ken Farrish; and Paul Casseri, product manager, presented a check to Susan G. Komen representatives. Bastek said many of the contractors and distributors will be matching whatever was purchased from their place of business.

"So many of our contractors in our community had personal stories who had been affected [by breast cancer]," said Bastek in the video. “The community got behind it in a big way and bought a lot of rolls of underlayment.”

The Susan G. Komen foundation, launched in 1982, has funded more than $988 million in research and more than $2.2 billion in education, screenings and treatment programs across the U.S.

Thankfully, breast cancer incidence rates have been decreasing in the U.S. since 2000, dropping by 7 percent from 2002 to 2003 alone, but more work needs to be done. Susan G. Komen takes a 360-degree approach by providing education and access to screenings as well as funding research.

"We are so grateful to receive this donation from Atlas Roofing Corporation," said Julie Brock, special events and volunteer manager at Susan G. Komen Greater Atlanta. "Corporate initiatives and donations like the one from Atlas help us continue serving our local community and communities across the country through life-saving programs and research."

Summit 60 is designed to optimize the life of a roof system through superior water resistance and UV protection, protecting against water intrusion and mold growth. Made from a woven polymeric scrim, Summit 60 is designed for increased strength, reduced slippage between the underlayment and the roof sheathing and improved walkability during installation.

For more information on Summit 60 underlayment, visit atlasroofing.com.