‘Desperate' Men Ask Fans for $10 Million
(News Courtesy of Lee Jeans)
‘Desperate' Men Ask Fans for $10 Million
James Denton and Ricardo Antonio Chavira Sign on to Commemorate the 10th Anniversary of Lee National Denim Day®
Merriam, KS - MAY 18, 2005 - With the "Desperate Housewives" season quickly nearing its cliff-hanger ending, two of the hunks of Wisteria Lane are showing their softer sides by focusing their attention on raising money for breast cancer initiatives. James Denton and Ricardo Antonio Chavira, stars of the hit television show, have joined forces to help raise $10 million to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Lee National Denim Day®. Denton and Chavira are calling on fans and millions of workers nationwide to join them October 7 in wearing denim to work in exchange for a $5 donation to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
"For 10 years this program has transformed the workplace by bringing deep meaning to casual Fridays and unifying millions of people through two simple acts: wearing denim and making a donation," said Kathy Collins, vice president of marketing for Lee Jeans. "Lee National Denim Day is about finding a cure for breast cancer - it's about education and hope and the power of a pair of jeans."
United for a cause
Chavira and Denton share a passion for the cause: each lost his mother to breast cancer. Chavira's mother died when he was a teenager while Denton's mother died just two years ago. While their experiences with the disease are different, the pain breast cancer inflicted on their families is the same. By partnering with Lee Jeans and the Komen Foundation, they hope to spread the important messages of education and early detection so their unfortunate losses might be prevented for future sons and daughters. Additionally, as male spokespeople, Denton and Chavira hope to increase recognition of the important role men play as co-survivors - encouraging breast health and assisting a spouse, partner, mother, sister or friend in their fight against the disease.
Last year, approximately 27,500 companies helped raise more than $8.5 million on a single day, bringing the nine-year fundraising total of Lee National Denim Day to more than $52 million for the Komen Foundation. In the coming months, Denton and Chavira will make personal appearances on behalf of Lee National Denim Day and appear in a national print ad campaign with the hope of recruiting millions of people to join the fight against breast cancer and reach the $10 million goal.
Support Lee National Denim Day!
To find out more about participating in Lee National Denim Day visit www.denimday.com.
About The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation was established in 1982 by Nancy Brinker to honor the memory of her sister, Susan G. Komen, who died from breast cancer at the age of 36. Today, the Foundation is an international organization with a network of more than 75,000 volunteers working through local Affiliates and events like the Komen Race for the Cure® to eradicate breast cancer as a life-threatening disease. A global leader in the fight against breast cancer, the Foundation fulfills its mission through support of innovative breast cancer research grants, and educational, scientific and community outreach programs around the world. For more information about breast health or breast cancer, visit the Foundation's Web site, www.komen.org, or call its National Toll-Free Breast Care Helpline, 1.800 I'M AWARE®.
About Lee Jeans
Lee Jeans is a division of VF Corp. (NYSE: VFC).Headquartered in Merriam, Kansas, Lee manufactures and markets brand denim, casual pants, shirts, fleece and knit apparel.A brand committed to the community, Lee Jeans founded and annually underwrites Lee National Denim Day, the largest single-day fundraiser for breast cancer. VF Corp. is the world's largest apparel company and a leader in jeanswear, intimate apparel, knitwear, workwear, playwear, and daypacks.Its principal brands include Lee, Wrangler, Riders, Rustler, Vanity Fair, Vassarette, Bestform, Lily of France, JanSport, Eastpak, Vans, Earl Jean, Nautica, The North Face and Napapijri.
