As Breast Cancer Awareness Month comes around each year in October, Cal State Fullerton’s Police Department is flooded with images of law enforcement officers worldwide wearing pink patches on their uniforms, sporting specialized T-shirts and various pink gear. The breast cancer awareness items are more than just symbols of solidarity — they represent the deep-rooted connection between officers and the communities they serve in the fight against breast cancer.
This year, the story behind the CSUF Police Department’s pink patch T-shirt is chock-full of symbolism thanks to the efforts of one exceptional designer.
Meet Timothy Jasko, a Cal State Fullerton alum who has worked in the IT Department for 10 years. When approached by the CSUF Police Department and asked to design its 2024 shirt, he jumped at the opportunity because of his connection to the cause. Jasko’s father passed away from cancer, making this project especially meaningful to him.
One of his greatest joys is art — a passion he shared with his father who was a painter. Growing up in New York City, Jasko spent countless hours in museums between art classes, which fueled his enthusiasm for design.
The design, on a background of black, takes the wearer back to 1957 and the founding of Cal State Fullerton. Set against the iconic CSUF promenade arch, the shirt features a pink 1957 Bel-Air, which honors the university. A touch of Southern California shines through with the palm trees and the 57 freeway sign in the background. The dice in the bottom right corner, rolled to a two and a four, demonstrate the 2024 Pink Patch Project design. Finally, displayed prominently on the front of the shirt, Jasko added the State College and Nutwood street signs, which pay homage to two major streets surrounding the university.
“I create images with subtleties that reveal themselves the more you look at them. Design is like eating a barbecue meal — the more you savor it, the more you notice its layers and depth,” said Jasko ’14 (M.S. software engineering).
The Pink Patch Project is an innovative public awareness campaign aimed at drawing attention to the ongoing battle against breast cancer and providing crucial support to breast cancer research organizations. As the Pink Patch Project continues to grow, it serves as a reminder of how law enforcement can come together with communities to raise awareness and support life-saving causes. The CSUF Police Department and Titan Shops began their breast cancer partnership five years ago after Kimberly Ball, director of auxiliary enterprises, shared her story. The department is grateful to Ball and the Titan Shops personnel for their continued partnership and support.
All breast cancer items are sold in-store or online through Titan Shops.