BMW Presents $1 Million to Breast Cancer Foundation
30 April 1998
BMW Presents $1 Million to Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation At Working Woman 500 Conference
Announces $1 Million Goal for 1998 in
'The Ultimate Drive for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation'
CHICAGO, April 30 -- Today, in a special ceremony at the
Working Woman 500 Conference, BMW donated $1 million to the Susan G. Komen
Breast Cancer Foundation. Each dollar represents one mile driven in BMW's
million mile/million dollar fundraising program. The Komen Foundation and BMW
also announced a $1 million fundraising goal for 1998 in "The Ultimate Drive
for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation" to kick off on July 21, 1998.
Last year, two fleets of 16 specially marked BMW vehicles set out on
cross-country caravans, from the east and west coasts, in early May. Over the
next six months, test drivers across the country logged 1,000,000 miles at 224
fundraising events. For every mile driven, BMW donates one dollar on behalf
of the driver. More than 32,000 drivers in 150 communities participated in
the grassroots effort to raise research funds and increase awareness about
breast cancer, in particular, early detection. Because of the overwhelming
success and request for participation, the 1998 "Ultimate Drive for the Susan
G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation" will feature three fleets of BMW vehicles
traveling to more than 200 events nationwide, in an effort to raise another
million dollars.
"We are delighted to present $1 million to Nancy Brinker, founder of the
Susan G. Komen Foundation," stated Victor Doolan, president of BMW of North
America, Inc. "Thank you for your extraordinary efforts, in a tribute to your
sister, to increase awareness and education about breast cancer. BMW is proud
to have launched this program with you in a year when, for the first time
since the country began keeping records, the mortality rate for all cancer
declined."
"We thank BMW for creating this fantastic program and for this important
$1 million contribution," stated Nancy Brinker, founder of the Komen
Foundation. "The reduced mortality rate is an encouraging sign that
increasing awareness about breast cancer, early detection in particular, can
save lives. While new drug treatments are promising, it is still absolutely
critical for women to be aggressive about education, self-examinations and
mammograms."
The Ultimate Drive for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
The three specially-marked caravans will travel to more than 200 BMW
retail centers in an effort to generate one million miles and $1 million. As
the caravans travel from city to city, "Hero's" from each community will be
recognized for his or her outstanding contributions in the fight against
breast cancer. The 1997 Signature Cars are currently on display at the
Working Woman 500 Conference.
BMW Sponsors the Working Woman 500 Congress
BMW is the official car of the Working Woman 500 Congress, a ground-
breaking forum gathering together owners, presidents, chairs and CEOs of the
500 largest women-owned and operated businesses in the U.S. Comprehensive
workshops and specialized concurrent breakout sessions address topics such as:
Technology; Branding; the Internet; and Customer Service.
The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation was established in 1982 by
Nancy Brinker to honor the memory of her sister Susan, who died from breast
cancer at the age of 36. The Foundation's mission is to eradicate breast
cancer as a life-threatening disease by advancing research, education,
screening and treatment. The Komen Foundation is now the nation's largest
private funder of research dedicated solely to breast cancer. In addition to
funding and research, the National Grant Program and local affiliates
throughout the country fund innovative breast cancer education, screening and
treatment projects for the medically underserved.
BMW entered the North American market in 1975. Since then, the company
has grown to include marketing, sales and financial services organizations in
the United States and Canada; a South Carolina manufacturing operation; a
design firm 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, N.J.
SOURCE BMW of North America, Inc.
