Advance Auto Parts Celebrates Ten Consecutive Years of Support for Juvenile Diabetes Research
ROANOKE, Va., Sept. 3 -- Advance Auto Parts, Inc. , a leading retailer of automotive parts and accessories and a national supporter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), is proud to announce the launch of its 2004 "sneaker" sales campaign to benefit children with diabetes. This year marks Advance Auto Parts' 10th consecutive year of support for JDRF, and in celebration of a decade of commitment, the Company has set a goal of raising $1 million during its 2004 campaign. By reaching this goal, Advance Auto Parts will have raised over $10 million in its ten years with JDRF.
Advance Auto Parts' "sneaker" sales program will be held at over 2,500 Advance Auto Parts stores. The program began September 1 and runs through September 30, 2004. Through the generosity of Advance team members and customers, the JDRF "sneaker" sales program has raised millions of dollars for diabetes research, one-dollar at a time for each paper sneaker purchased. Advance team members sell paper "sneakers" to customers for one-dollar each, with the "sneakers" displayed at the stores to show support for this worthy cause. Every contribution helps bring JDRF one step closer to finding a cure.
"Advance Auto Parts wants to score a Perfect 10 for JDRF by raising $10 million dollars in ten years for diabetes research," said Ken Wirth, Senior Vice President of Store Operations and the leader of Advance's campaign efforts for the past ten years. "Supporting JDRF has become a part of this Company's culture and selling JDRF 'sneakers' is an opportunity for our team members to give back to the communities they live in. In addition, our customers always get behind our cause, showing tremendous support. Meeting our goal would not be possible without their support. We are confident that a cure will be found."
"We at JDRF are delighted by the initiative and passion that Advance Auto Parts has shown in helping to find a cure for type 1 diabetes and its complications," said Peter Van Etten, President and CEO of JDRF. "We applaud this remarkable company for its ambitious goal of raising $10 million in ten years. Together we are making significant strides in the quest for a cure."
In addition to the store "sneaker" campaign, other funds are collected from store, distribution centers and facilities, and corporate office fundraising events. Planned events include participation in several local JDRF community walks, golf tournaments, and silent auctions. At the end of the Company's campaign in 2003, contributions to JDRF totaled over $9 million in nine years.
About JDRF
JDRF (http://www.jdrf.org/) was founded in 1970 by the parents of children with juvenile diabetes -- a disease that strikes children suddenly, makes them insulin dependent for life, and carries the constant threat of devastating complications. Since inception, JDRF has provided more than $800 million to diabetes research worldwide. More than 80 percent of JDRF's expenditures directly support research and education about research. JDRF's mission is
constant: to find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research.
ABOUT ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, INC.
Headquartered in Roanoke, VA, Advance Auto Parts is a leading retailer of automotive parts and products in the United States. The Company has over 2,600 locations in 39 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The Company serves both the do-it-yourself and professional installer markets.
Additional information about the Company, employment opportunities, services, as well as on-line purchase of parts and accessories can be found on the Company's web site at http://www.advanceautoparts.com/.