NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Saks Fifth Avenue and the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF) announced today that actress Jennifer Aniston has been named the EIF ambassador for Saks Fifth Avenue’s 2013 Key To The Cure campaign. In the 14 years since the inception of the Saks Fifth Avenue charity shopping weekend, the company, together with its vendors and partners, has raised over $33 million for cancer research.
Celebrated designer Peter Dundas of Emilio Pucci created a limited-edition T-shirt exclusively to benefit Key To The Cure that will retail for $35 at Saks Fifth Avenue stores, Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH stores and online at saks.com. One hundred percent of the proceeds from each shirt sold will be donated to EIF’s Women’s Cancer Research Fund, benefiting charitable programs dedicated to finding new detection methods, better treatments and eventual cures for women’s cancers. The T-shirt debuts at Saks Fifth Avenue on October 1.
“I’m so honored to join the Entertainment Industry Foundation and Saks Fifth Avenue in their continued efforts to raise funds for promising scientific research through EIF’s Women’s Cancer Research Fund,” said Jennifer Aniston. “My hope is that everyone will contribute to this worthy cause by purchasing a Key To The Cure T-shirt designed by Emilio Pucci.“
Steve Sadove, Chairman and CEO, Saks Fifth Avenue, said, “We are so pleased to be partnering with Peter Dundas and Emilio Pucci, EIF’s Women’s Cancer Research Fund, and Jennifer Aniston this year for Key To The Cure. In our 15th year, the continued support of our charity affiliates and efforts made by our clients, vendors and associates have proven to be a true testament to the Key To The Cure legacy.”
“I am proud for Emilio Pucci to be part of such an important initiative with Saks Fifth Avenue. I think every living person has been touched by this disease through the illness or even loss of a friend or a family member. I have. It would seem that in 2013 this would no longer be a worry, but it very much is and so the fight continues,” stated designer Peter Dundas.
Ms. Aniston will appear in a national public service announcement (PSA) wearing the Emilio Pucci limited-edition T-shirt. The Key To The Cure PSA will appear in major fashion and lifestyle magazines in September and October. Saks Fifth Avenue’s charity shopping weekend will take place Thursday through Sunday, October 17 to 20, at all Saks Fifth Avenue and Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH stores nationwide and on saks.com. During the shopping weekend, 2% of participating vendor sales up to $500,000 will be donated to our national beneficiary, the Entertainment Industry Foundation.
Saks Fifth Avenue initiated its charity shopping weekend in 1999. Since then, the company has donated more than $33 million to women’s cancer research and treatment organizations throughout the United States. Organizations benefiting from these funds include: The Breast Cancer Research Foundation; EIF’s Women’s Cancer Research Fund; Cleveland Clinic; Boston’s Dana-Farber Cancer Institute; Nevada Cancer Institute and many others.
About EIF’s Women’s Cancer Research Fund
The Women’s Cancer Research Fund, an Entertainment Industry Foundation Program, 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. Through an ambitious, first of its kind scientific project, called EIF’s WCRF Biomarker Breast Cancer Discovery Project, world-class scientists have collaborated to identify markers in the blood that signal the presence of breast cancer. These findings could, one day, lead to the development of a blood test to detect breast cancer in its beginning, most-curable stages. The Fund also supports research being conducted at prestigious, National Cancer Institute (NCI)-accredited medical institutions primarily based in Los Angeles. For more information, visit www.womenscancerresearchfund.org.
About the Entertainment Industry Foundation
The Entertainment Industry Foundation, 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. For more information, visit www.eifoundation.org.
About Saks Fifth Avenue
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 gifts, and the first-rate fashion expertise and exemplary client service of its Associates. Today, Saks operates 41 full-line stores in 20 states, five international licensed stores, 66 Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH stores and saks.com, the company’s online store.
Saks Fifth Avenue is proud to be named a J.D. Power and Associates 2012 Customer Service Champion and is only one of 50 U.S. companies so named.
