Lee National Denim Day donates $5.5 million to groundbreaking early detection and treatment research as well as local breast cancer prevention services. Actress Gabrielle Union, a 2006 Lee National Denim Day ambassador, attended the celebration at Lee Jeans’ headquarters on behalf of EIF.
Merriam, Kan. (PRWEB) October 6, 2006 -– Today, a check for $5.5 million was donated to the Women’s Cancer Programs of the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF) on behalf Lee National Denim Day, the largest single-day fundraiser for breast cancer, founded by Lee Jeans 11 years ago. Millions of people across the country wore denim today in exchange for a $5 donation for breast cancer early detection and treatment research and breast cancer prevention services.
Actress Gabrielle Union, a 2006 Lee National Denim Day ambassador, attended the celebration at Lee Jeans’ headquarters on behalf of EIF. Union is participating in Denim Day in honor of a close friend recently diagnosed with breast cancer. Lisa Paulsen, president and CEO of EIF, accepted the check for the charity along with special guests who will help put the funds to use, namely Dr. Dennis Slamon, Director of Clinical/Translational Research, UCLA and Chair of EIF’s National Women’s Cancer Research Alliance (NWCRA), and Fran Visco, president of the National Breast Cancer Coalition Fund.
“Lee National Denim Day is about camaraderie – millions of people coming together, symbolically wearing denim and making a small donation, that when combined, has a tremendous impact in the fight against breast cancer,” said Liz Cahill, director of public relations and advertising at Lee Jeans. “It’s thrilling to feel that teamwork come to life on Denim Day when we announce the funds raised and provide details on how they will be put to work by a host of leading institutions.”
Net proceeds from Lee National Denim Day will support groundbreaking early detection and treatment research and support community breast cancer prevention services. Specifically, Denim Day funds will help establish the Lee Jeans Translational Laboratories and Fellowships for Breast Cancer Research; support the EIF Breast Biomarker Discovery Project, a multi-year effort by world-class scientists to develop a blood test for early detection of breast cancer; and create web-based and print resources for the National Breast Cancer Coalition that will offer individuals with breast cancer evidence-based information about diagnosis and treatment options.
“The Entertainment Industry Foundation is proud to join Lee Jeans for Lee National Denim Day. Together we are committed to funding the most promising and groundbreaking breast cancer treatment and early detection research in the country,” said Paulsen.
Since the program’s inception in 1996, millions of people have participated in Lee National Denim Day at companies, schools and through local civic groups. Nearly 20,000 companies participated in the 11th year of the program, which raised more than $61 million in its first 10 years.
About Lee Jeans
Lee® Jeans is a division of VF Corporation. (NYSE: VFC). Headquartered in Merriam, Kan., Lee manufactures and markets brand denim, casual pants, shirts, fleece and knit apparel.
About The Entertainment Industry Foundation
The Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF), as a leading charitable organization of the entertainment industry, has distributed hundreds of millions of dollars to support charitable initiatives addressing critical health, education and social issues.
EIF is committed to saving lives by raising awareness about the importance of early detection of breast and reproductive cancers, and providing funds to advance early detection and treatment research, as well as support to community programs that assist the millions of women and their families at risk of or affected by cancer.
For questions about EIF's women's cancer programs and information about breast cancer, visit eifoundation.org or call 800-426-0010.
Press Contacts:
Rachel McKenney, 816.512.9482
Maurine Slutzky, 818.505.2626
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