National Drive for the Cure(TM) Program Surpasses Halfway Mark
28 August 1997
National Drive for the Cure(TM) Program Surpasses Halfway Mark
Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and BMW Reach 500,000 Mile
Mark in Effort to Raise $1 Million By Logging 1,000,000 Miles
DALLAS, Aug. 27 -- The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer
Foundation and BMW of North America are proud to announce that the Drive for
the Cure(TM) surpassed the 500,000-mile mark in Greenville, South Carolina on
Saturday August 23rd, and today reached 514,000 miles at Schaeffer BMW in
Wilmington, North Carolina. This puts the program more than halfway towards
its goal of raising $1 million dollars for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer
Foundation, whose mission is to eradicate breast cancer as a life-threatening
disease by advancing research, education, screening and treatment.
Through the Drive for the Cure(TM) program, BMW is contributing one dollar
for every mile driven at special events hosted by BMW Retail Centers through
October 31, 1997. Contributions are being made by BMW on behalf of each test
driver, and will ultimately result in a gift of $1 million to the Susan G.
Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Since the program's launch in early May, the
Drive for the Cure(TM) has passed through more than one hundred communities
across the country, involving over eighteen thousand participants and
volunteers, all the while building awareness of a disease that is the leading
cause of death for women between the ages of 35 - 54.
"Not only is this program raising much-needed funds, but a tremendous
amount of awareness is being generated as individuals in communities across
the country are being recognized as Local Heroes for their efforts in the
fight against breast cancer," stated Nancy Brinker, founder of the Komen
Foundation. "These are real people making a real difference in the lives of
those in their communities. It sends a strong message. You too can make a
difference -- and what a fun and unique way -- by driving a BMW!"
"This program has exceeded our highest expectations," stated Victor
Doolan, president of BMW of North America, Inc. "The momentum has been
building as each fleet rolls into the next community. The support from Komen
volunteers and BMW retailers has been overwhelming, but the true measure of
success has been the number of people who have come out to drive and help us
reach our million mile/million dollar goal."
The Drive for the Cure(TM) features two fleets of 16 specially marked BMW
vehicles that set out on cross-country caravans from the east and west coasts
in early May. The caravans are stopping in more than 40 states where over
200 BMW retailers are hosting special events in honor of the Komen
Foundation's 15th Anniversary. At each event, guests are participating in the
fight against breast cancer by test driving the specially marked vehicles.
The Komen Foundation receives $1 for each mile driven during test drives, as
well as during highway travel from city to city.
As the caravans travel from city to city, an individual from each
community is recognized for his or her outstanding contributions in the fight
against breast cancer. Each Local Hero's photograph will be added to the lead
car producing an ever-growing collage of actual faces -- real people -- who
are making a difference. Test drivers also leave their mark on the lead car,
or Signature Car, signing the vehicle after completing the course.
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. The Foundation is a national organization
with a network of volunteers fighting to eradicate breast cancer as a life-
threatening disease by advancing research, education, screening and treatment.
The Foundation is the nation's largest private funder of research
dedicated solely to breast cancer. In addition to funding research, the
National Grant Program funds innovative breast cancer education, screening and
treatment projects for the medically under-served. Hundreds of thousands of
men and women receive the life-saving message of early detection through Komen
outreach efforts.
BMW of North America, Inc. was established in 1975, when the company
assumed marketing and distribution responsibilities of BMW vehicles in the
U.S. from the previous private distributor. Since then the company's North
American operations have grown to include marketing, sales and financial
services organizations in the United States and Canada; a South Carolina
manufacturing operation; a design firm, Designworks, in California; and
various other operations throughout the U.S. and Canada. BMW is represented
in North America through a network of more than 375 automobile and
190 motorcycle retailers in the United States and Canada. BMW (US) Holding
Corp., the brand's North American headquarters, is located in Woodcliff Lake,
New Jersey.
DRIVE FOR THE CURE(TM) EVENT SCHEDULE
August 27 Wilmington, NC
August 27 Albuquerque, NM
August 29 Charleston, SC
August 29-30 Las Vegas, NV
August 30 Hilton Head, SC
September 2 Savannah, GA
September 2 Camarillo, CA
September 3 Augusta, GA
September 3 Thousand Oaks, CA
September 4 Athens, GA
September 4 Canoga Park, CA
September 5 Glendale, CA
September 5-7 Atlanta, GA
September 6 Alhambra, CA
September 7 Sherman Oaks, CA
September 8 Greenville, SC
September 10 Chattanooga, TN
September 10 Santa Monica, CA
September 11 Huntsville, AL
September 11 N. Hollywood, CA
September 12 Birmingham, AL
September 12 Los Angeles, CA
September 13 Columbus, GA
September 13 Norwalk, CA
September 14 Beverly Hills, CA
September 15 Macon, GA
September 17 Jacksonville, FL
September 18 Daytona Beach, FL
September 18 Hermosa Beach, CA
September 19 Winter Park, FL
September 19 Long Beach, CA
September 20 Melbourne, FL
September 20 Monrovia, CA
September 21 Ontario, CA
September 23 Ft. Pierce, FL
September 23 Torrance, CA
September 24 W. Palm Beach, FL
September 25 Pompano Beach, FL
September 25 Riverside, CA
September 26 Buena Park, CA
September 26-27 Miami, FL
September 27 Santa Ana, CA
September 28 Ft. Lauderdale, FL
September 28 Newport Beach, CA
September 29 Irvine, CA
October 1 Palm Springs, CA
October 2 Naples, FL
October 2 Oceanside, CA
October 3 Ft. Myers, FL
October 3 Escondido, CA
October 4 Encinitas, CA
October 5 El Cajon, CA
October 6 St. Petersburg, FL
October 6 San Diego, CA
October 7 Sarasota, FL
October 8 St. Pete, FL
October 8 Scotsdale, AZ
October 9 Tampa, FL
October 9 Phoenix, AZ
October 10 Holiday, FL
October 11 Gainsville, FL
October 11 Tuscon, AZ
October 13 El Paso, TX
October 14 Tallahassee, FL
October 15 Ft. Walton Beach, FL
October 15 Lubbock, TX
October 16 Pensacola, FL
October 16 Abilene, TX
October 17 Mobile, AL
October 17 San Antonio, TX
October 18 New Orleans, LA
October 18 Corpus Christi, TX
October 21 Baton Rouge, LA
October 21-22,24 Houston, TX
October 22 Shreveport, LA
October 23 Temple, TX
October 24 Arlington, TX
October 25 Dallas, TX
October 25 Beaumont, TX
October 29 Dallas, TX
October 29-30 Bryan, TX
October 30 Ft. Worth, TX
October 31 Dallas, TX
SOURCE BMW of North America
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