Throughout the month of October, eBay users will notice a pink hue to the world’s largest online marketplace. That’s because eBay Giving Works, the company’s charity fundraising program, will be hosting its 8th annual fundraising campaign in honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
The fundraiser, called “Make It Pink,” will benefit nonprofit organizations doing critical work to educate the public, save lives and find a cure for breast cancer, which kills more than 40,000 women and 400 men annually.
Featured charity auctions include items from Fergie, Ashley Greene, Delta Goodrem, Natasha Bedingfield, Sheila E. and Reese Witherspoon, plus eBay discounts, a Facebook contest, and several other easy ways to donate.
There are several easy ways to support breast cancer organizations on eBay during the month of October and beyond: People can shop great items—including clothing and accessories, home goods, toys, sports and recreational equipment, books and memorabilia—that benefit breast cancer organizations here; they can donate any dollar amount to a featured breast cancer organization when they check out on eBay using PayPal; or they can sell on eBay and donate from 1 to 100 percent of their item’s sale price to their favorite breast cancer organization and receive fee credits on basic eBay fees, equal to the percentage donated.
“So many of us at eBay, and in our overall community, have been personally touched by breast cancer and want to contribute to the cause in any way we can,” said Richelle Parham, eBay’s Chief Marketing Officer. “The goal of our Make it Pink campaign is to make it easy, convenient and fun for people to donate to their favorite organizations, in order to arm those organizations with the resources they need to help fight this disease.”
Last year’s campaign raised $242,000 for breast cancer awareness and drove 58,000 listings on eBay that benefitted breast cancer organizations.
Throughout October, eBay will feature a different breast cancer organization each week here. Featured organizations will be the Avon Foundation for Women, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Bright Pink and American Cancer Society. eBay users will have an opportunity to bid on various charity auction items each week, such as a Christian Louboutin Black Suede lace up boots and a Marc Jacobs Navy Blue Satin Zipper dress worn by famous pop artist Fergie. The proceeds from this auction will benefit the Avon Foundation, the largest corporate philanthropy dedicated to women’s causes globally.
Fergie, six-time Grammy-award winning artist and Avon spokesperson, said: “Pink means something to many of us. You may have been touched by breast cancer. I have, since both my mother and father are cancer survivors and I lost my grandmother to cancer three years ago. As a global ambassador for the Avon Foundation for Women, I am asking you to help make a difference for women, men and their families in the fight against breast cancer.”
Another charity auction item is a New Year’s Eve VIP experience in New York City. Among other features, the charity auction package includes a shopping spree at Aerie by American Eagle Outfitters, the auction winner’s photo circulated on a JumboTron in Times Square, and two VIP tickets to ABC’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve Celebration with Ryan Seacrest, all benefiting Chicago-based Bright Pink, a nonprofit organization geared towards young women who are at high risk for breast and ovarian cancer.
“Aerie is about being confident, natural and feeling great about yourself, so partnering with Bright Pink is a natural fit for us, as the organization’s mission and work affect our customers profoundly,” said Joan Hilson, Chief Financial Officer of American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. and founding board member of Bright Pink. “We created the New Year’s Eve Experience auction package in an effort to build a memorable experience while supporting a brilliant cause which is close to our hearts.”
Additionally, eBay is hosting a fundraising campaign on Facebook and invites individuals to upload a short story and photo describing why breast cancer awareness is an important issue for them. For every story uploaded, eBay will donate $1 (up to $20,000) to its four featured nonprofit partners. Each submission is also an entry into a weekly drawing for a $1000 eBay shopping spree.
Be part of the auction here.
