RENÉE ZELLWEGER ANNOUNCED AS
EIF AMBASSADOR TO SAKS FIFTH AVENUE'S
2007 KEY TO THE CURE CAMPAIGN
BENEFIT T-SHIRT DESIGN BY JUICY COUTURE
A Women's Cancer Initiative in Partnership with the
Entertainment Industry Foundation's Women's Cancer Research Fund
Saks Fifth Avenue and the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF) announced today that Academy Award® winning actress Renée Zellweger has been named Entertainment Industry Foundation ambassador for Saks Fifth Avenue's 2007 KEY TO THE CURE campaign. KEY TO THE CURE is a women's cancer initiative founded in partnership with EIF's Women's Cancer Research Fund. The program will also receive ongoing support from Mercedes-Benz USA.
Renée Zellweger, Entertainment Industry Foundations' ambassador for Saks Fifth Avenue's 2007 KEY TO THE CURE campaign said, "With great support from Saks Fifth Avenue, EIF is funding important, ambitious research projects, crucial to the development of better treatments and more accurate testing for breast cancer. I became involved with several women's cancer charities and research organizations after one of my best friends was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2000. She received some of the most progressive treatments available today. I know first hand the importance supporting their commitment."
In the 8 years since the inception of the Saks Fifth Avenue charity shopping event, the company, together with its vendors and partners, has raised more than $23 million. Working to continue this success, the money raised through Saks Fifth Avenue's 2007 KEY TO THE CURE will benefit more than 50 charitable programs dedicated to finding new detection methods, treatments and, hopefully, a cure for women's cancers through EIF's Women's Cancer Research Fund.
"Saks Fifth Avenue is the leading retailer for this type of national philanthropic outreach and KEY TO THE CURE is one of the most important initiatives that our company supports," said Stephen I. Sadove, Chief Executive Officer of Saks Inc. "We are enormously grateful to Ms. Zellweger for honoring us as this year's EIF ambassador to KEY TO THE CURE, as well as to Juicy Couture for designing such an amazing T-Shirt for the campaign."
Saks Fifth Avenue's shopping weekend will take place October 18 to 21 at all of its stores nationwide, during which a percentage of sales will benefit local organizations through EIF's Women's Cancer Research Fund. In support of this program, Ms. Zellweger will appear in a national public service announcement (PSA) wearing a limited edition t-shirt designed by Juicy Couture, exclusively to benefit Saks Fifth Avenue's KEY TO THE CURE.
Renowned photographer Michael Thompson generously donated his time to photograph Ms. Zellweger for the campaign. Known for his versatile and inventive vision, Thompson has worked with countless prestigious fashion magazines and the most notable faces in Hollywood. The PSA will appear in major fashion and lifestyle magazines in September and October.
For the fifth consecutive year, Mercedes-Benz USA is proud to partner with the Entertainment Industry Foundation's Women's Cancer Research Fund and Saks Fifth Avenue in KEY TO THE CURE to raise funds for women's cancer research through sales of an exclusive special edition vehicle. For this year's campaign, Mercedes-Benz will offer the special edition version of its all-new, eagerly-awaited 2008 C350 Sport Sedan which goes on sale this fall. With its 3.5-liter, 268-horsepower V-6 engine, aggressive AMG body styling, 18-inch AMG twin-spoke wheels, exclusive Sahara Beige and black interior and a new multimedia system with Bluetooth connectivity, this Special Edition C350 Sport Sedan is not only well-equipped, but powerful and fun to drive.
As a national sponsor of KEY TO THE CURE, Mercedes-Benz USA expects to raise $1 million this year through sales of 1,000 special edition vehicles, bringing the total amount raised by MBUSA for women's cancer research to over $5 million. The new Special Edition C350 Sport Sedan will be offered at Mercedes-Benz dealerships this September and will help raise funds for new cancer treatments as well as education and prevention.
Saks Fifth Avenue initiated its shopping weekend in 1999. Since then, the company has donated over $23 million to women's cancer research and treatment organizations throughout the United States. Organizations benefiting from these funds include: EIF's Women's Cancer Research Fund; The Breast Cancer Research Foundation; the Cleveland Clinic; Boston's Dana-Farber Cancer Institute; the Nevada Cancer Institute; and many others.
The Women's Cancer Research Fund, a program of the Entertainment Industry Foundation, was established by Chairs Rita Wilson, Tom Hanks, Kate Capshaw and Steven Spielberg, along with Founders Kelly Chapman Meyer, Anne Douglas, Quinn Ezralow, Marion Laurie and Jamie Tisch. WCRF supports innovative research, education, and outreach directed at the development of more effective approaches to the early diagnosis, treatment and prevention of all women's cancers
As a philanthropic leader of the entertainment industry, the Entertainment Industry Foundation has distributed hundreds of millions of dollars and provided countless volunteer hours to support charitable initiatives addressing some of the most critical issues facing society today. For more information, visit www.eifoundation.org.
Saks Fifth Avenue, one of the world's pre-eminent specialty retailers, is renowned for its superlative American and international designer collections, its expertly edited assortment of handbags, shoes, jewelry, cosmetics and home furnishings, and the first-rate fashion expertise and exemplary client service of its Associates. Today, Saks operates 54 full-line stores in 25 states, 2 stores in the Middle East in Dubai and Riyadh, 49 OFF 5th Outlet Stores and saks.com, the company's online store.
Contact:
Saks Fifth Avenue
Lesley Langsam Kennedy
212.451.3799
lesley_langsam@s5a.com
Entertainment Industry Foundation
Judi Ketcik
213.240.3920
jketcik@eifoundation.org
