Ford Division Accelerates Race For The Cure(R)
4 January 1999
Ford Division Accelerates Race For The Cure(R) 99 Races Scheduled For '99
DEARBORN, Mich., Jan. 4 -- Ford Division is increasing its
efforts to fight breast cancer as the exclusive national automotive sponsor of
the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation's Race for the Cure(R), the
largest series of 5K fitness runs/walks in the world. The Komen Foundation is
a progressive grassroots organization with a national network of volunteers
working to eradicate breast cancer as a life-threatening disease.
In 1998, more than 500,000 runners and walkers participated in 86 races
nationwide, raising tens of millions of dollars for the Komen Foundation,
enabling the organization and its affiliates to fund nearly 2,000 research,
education and outreach programs throughout the country. A record-breaking 99
races are scheduled for 1999. The new race cities include: Boise, ID;
Clearwater, FL; Elmira, NY; Fayetteville, AK; Tucson, AZ; Fresno and Temecula
Valley, CA; Milwaukee, WI; Providence, RI; Reno, NV; St. Louis, MO; and
Texarkana and Tyler, TX.
Ford has been a national sponsor of Race for the Cure(R) since 1994.
During 1998 alone, Ford Division and its dealers supported the race with more
than $10 million in the form of sponsorship fees and media support.
Additional support includes sales events, giveaways, the use of Ford vehicles
at race sites, and hosting events for survivors of breast cancer.
"This is a grassroots effort with support at all levels within Ford,"
explained Ford Division Marketing Communications Manager Jan Klug. "Our
dealers are behind us and our employees are very committed to the fight
against breast cancer. Through our efforts we've been able to increase
national exposure for Komen, raise awareness in local markets across the
country, and generate public enthusiasm for this very important cause. In
1999 we intend to continue the momentum."
In addition to its national sponsorship of Race for the Cure(R), in 1998,
Ford Division's campaign to fight breast cancer included: underwriting a
special report in People magazine on celebrity breast cancer; a magazine
insert in four Conde Nast publications featuring breast cancer survivor, Peggy
Fleming; and a series of public service announcements and print pieces
targeted to the Hispanic market featuring top-rated Spanish-language TV talk
show host, Cristina Saralegui.
Ford Division also received two prestigious awards in 1998 for its efforts
to raise breast cancer awareness. At its 16th Annual National Awards Luncheon
in Dallas, the Komen Foundation presented Ford Division with its 1998 Award
for National Philanthropy. Earlier, in New York City, the Division received
Self magazine's Pink Ribbon Award for its dedication to the breast cancer
awareness movement and its broad-based support of Race for the Cure(R).
Credited as the nation's leading catalyst in the fight against breast
cancer, the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and its powerful network
of volunteers continue to lead the fight against the disease. Established in
1982 by Nancy Brinker to honor the memory of her sister, Susan G. Komen, who
died from breast cancer at age 36, the Komen Foundation's mission is to
eradicate breast cancer as a life-threatening disease by advancing research,
education, screening and treatment. The Komen Foundation has local affiliates
in more than 100 communities across the country, and has raised more than $136
million since its inception.
For more information about the 1999 Race for the Cure(R), call
800-653-5355.
