BMW to Raise $1 Million for the Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
3 July 1997
National Drive For The Cure Program Passes 250,000 Mile Mark
BMW Program Aims to Raise $1 Million for the Komen Breast Cancer Foundation's
Fight Against Breast Cancer
WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J., July 2 -- The inaugural Drive for the
Cure, a joint program between BMW and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer
Foundation, today surpassed the 250,000-mile mark and has thus generated
$250,000 to build awareness for early breast cancer detection and research.
The Drive for the Cure began in early May and is designed to raise $1 million
to further breast cancer research and build awareness of the disease that
afflicts one in nine American women.
The 250,000-mile mark was reached today during a Drive for the Cure event
held at Bill Jacobs BMW in Naperville, Illinois, near Chicago. Through the
Drive for the Cure program, BMW will contribute one dollar for every mile test
driven at special events hosted by BMW Retail Centers through October 31,
1997. Contributions will be made by BMW on behalf of each test driver, and
will result in a gift of $1 million being made to the Susan G. Komen Breast
Cancer Foundation.
"The Drive for the Cure will be a complete success if we are able to
save one life by raising the awareness of breast cancer," stated Victor
Doolan, president of BMW of North America, Inc. "The entire BMW organization
is proud that we have attained a quarter-of-a-million miles and dollars to
benefit the mission of the Komen Foundation. Our partnership with the
Foundation has been absolutely outstanding as we work together in this effort
to generate $1 million enabling it to continue its vital mission."
The Drive for the Cure was officially launched on April 30 near Dallas,
Texas, the home of the Komen Foundation.
The Drive for the Cure features two caravans of specially marked BMW
vehicles (two fleets of 16) that are simultaneously moving across the U.S.
(The Silver Fleet is directed to the western and central regions of the
country, and the White Fleet travels the eastern seaboard.) The caravans will
stop in more than 90 cities where BMW Retailers will host special events in
honor of the Komen Foundation's 15th Anniversary and to generate test drive
miles and dollars.
At each event, guests are invited to participate in the fight against
breast cancer by test driving the specially marked vehicles. It is expected
that more than 125 test drives will be tallied at every participating BMW
Retail Center, with the Komen Foundation receiving $1 for each mile driven in
each fleet car during the test drives, as well as during highway travel from
city to city. In addition to driving activities, special information programs
will be developed to educate participants on the importance of early detection
of breast cancer.
"The Drive for the Cure is literally taking the Komen message to the
streets," stated Nancy Brinker, founding chairman of the Susan G. Komen Breast
Cancer Foundation. "We can't think of a more exciting way to launch our
15th year, or a better partner. BMW of North America continues to support our
efforts and broaden our reach. They too are heroes in the fight against
breast cancer."
Drive for the Cure events are scheduled throughout the summer and fall at
BMW Retail Centers in the United States. Between May and October, more than
225 BMW retailer events will take place in 41 states.
A complete calendar and listing of upcoming events is available by calling
800-972-CURE.
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 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.
Information about BMW products is available to consumers via the
World Wide Web on the BMW homepage. The address is: http://www.bmwusa.com.
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 working through local chapters and Race for the
Cure events 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.
SOURCE BMW of North America, Inc.