Saks Fifth Avenue is proud to announce it has again joined forces with Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) and the Entertainment Industry Foundation for the 2016 Key To The Cure campaign.
Now in its 18th year, Key To The Cure is Saks Fifth Avenue’s annual fund-raising and charitable initiative to fight cancer. This year, Academy-Award winning actress Halle Berry will act as the official campaign ambassador, wearing an exclusive, limited edition t-shirt designed by Christian Louboutin. The 2016 Key To The Cure campaign officially launches October 1 at all Saks Fifth Avenue locations in the U.S. and Canada as well as on saks.com and saksoff5th.com.
“Key To The Cure is one of the most important and valuable fund-raising and charitable initiatives that Saks undertakes,” said Marc Metrick, President, Saks Fifth Avenue. “We are committed to supporting the causes we believe in, and at almost two decades old, this annual campaign has raised close to $40 million for cancer research and treatment organizations throughout the United States. This year, we are thrilled to collaborate with SU2C for the second year in a row, as well as have the support of Halle Berry and Christian Louboutin on our extraordinary campaign to fund cancer research and treatment.”
Stand Up To Cancer, a program of the Entertainment Industry Foundation, was created in 2008 to accelerate innovative cancer research through collaboration among leading scientists from different institutions and disciplines who work together to deliver new therapies to patients quickly. By galvanizing the support of the entertainment industry, Stand Up To Cancer creates awareness and generates widespread public support for this effort to combat all types of cancers.
“The Entertainment Industry Foundation is proud to again come together with Saks Fifth Avenue in our shared mission to fund critical cancer research that is helping to get new treatments to patients quickly and save more lives,” said Lisa Paulsen, EIF President and CEO and co-founder of Stand Up To Cancer. “We’re so grateful to Saks Fifth Avenue for their continued support and dedication to cancer research, and to every individual who takes a stand with us in the fight against cancer by purchasing a Key To The Cure t-shirt or shopping at Saks during its charity shopping weekend.”
Christian Louboutin, known for his iconic shoe designs, will create the exclusive 2016 Key To The Cure t-shirt—the first time Saks Fifth Avenue has partnered with an accessories designer on this prestigious project. Past t-shirt designers have included Karl Lagerfeld, Michael Kors, Oscar de la Renta, Carolina Herrera, Diane von Furstenberg and more. The t-shirt will be available for purchase beginning October 1 at all Saks Fifth Avenue locations in U.S. and Canada as well as on saks.com and saksoff5th.com. 100% of sales from the $35 t-shirt will be donated to Stand Up To Cancer.
“I am very glad to work with Saks to support this important cause to help people who are affected by cancer,” stated Christian Louboutin. “It is my mission to help women feel beautiful, and I hope that this t-shirt empowers those who wear it.”
As campaign ambassador, actress Halle Berry will appear in a Saks Fifth Avenue-sponsored national public service announcement in fashion and lifestyle media outlets throughout September and October sporting the Christian Louboutin-designed t-shirt. Past ambassadors have included Jennifer Aniston, Gwyneth Paltrow, Charlize Theron, Hilary Swank, and Nicole Kidman.
“I, like so many others, have been touched by cancer, which is why I’m proud to continue to lend my support to the Entertainment Industry Foundation and Stand Up To Cancer in serving as this year’s Key To The Cure ambassador,” said Halle Berry. “I hope everyone will join me in supporting this critical cause by purchasing a Key To The Cure t-Shirt.”
Saks Fifth Avenue’s annual charity shopping weekend will kick off on October 27th at Saks Fifth Avenue locations in U.S. and Canada as well as on saks.com and saksoff5th.com. All 40 Saks locations will host an exciting array of events to support Key To The Cure and the program’s charity weekend.
Since the campaign’s inception nearly 18 years ago, Saks Fifth Avenue has donated nearly $40 million to cancer research and treatment organizations throughout the United States. Organizations which benefitted from Saks Fifth Avenue’s charitable support included: The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, EIF’s Women's Cancer Research Fund, Cleveland Clinic, Boston’s Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Nevada Cancer Institute and many more.
