Hanes, the 2009 apparel sponsor of Passionately Pink for the Cure is supporting a user-generated content (UGC) design competition that not only promotes creativity, however it encourages charitable behaviour as well.

The contest asks participants to design a T-shirt using a variety of online tools and graphics. The site allows you to customize your T-shirt design with everything from colour, signature ribbons to text, so entrants have an opportunity to send messages of hope or as a tribute. Once the design is completed participants are encouraged to write a 140 character comment expressing their passion for pink, which will be published in the T-shirt gallery.

Each week that the contest runs, the first 30 participants to submit designs will receive a T-shirt from actress Sarah Chalke, a Hanes spokesperson and star of the television show Scrubs. The T-shirt includes the words courage and strength above Chalke’s signature, who kicked off the competition with her own Hanes design.

One finalist from each week of the contest will receive a $100 Hanes gift card. Of those 12 finalists, each unique T-shirt design will be featured on the official competition web page where visitors to the site will be able to vote for their favourite.

The grand prize winner will receive a $250 Hanes gift card and a screen-printed copy of the winning T-shirt design. As a part of the deal, Hanes will also be making a $5000 donation in the grand prize winner’s name to their choice of Susan G. Komen for the Cure local affiliate or Komen global headquarters.

The Hanes Passionately Pink for the Cure website will also be offering a specialty pink collection beginning in September. The site will also serve as an inspiration to those wishing to make a donation. The effort serves to inspire the continued support of breast cancer awareness and research.