Since its inception in 1996, Lee National Denim Day® has adhered to a simple philosophy: one day, one cause, one cure. In the years since, that philosophy has become a mantra for millions and has made an impact Lee® Jeans never dreamed possible.

Launched in 1996, Lee Jeans set a goal of raising $1 million on the first Lee National Denim Day. To do this, Lee Jeans invited companies to participate by allowing employees to wear denim to work on Lee National Denim Day in exchange for a $5 contribution toward the fight against breast cancer. The underlying concept behind the program was simple – by convincing enough people to take one small step, together they could reach an incredible goal.

The response to the inaugural Lee National Denim Day program was astounding and set the stage for the impact this program would have in years to come. That year, more than 3,000 companies signed up to participate, raising $1.4 million dollars for the fight against breast cancer. Response to Lee National Denim Day has increased annually and its growth continues to amaze Lee Jeans and the millions of people who participate.

Since its first year and the initial dream of raising $1 million in a single day, Lee National Denim Day has raised more than $70 million for the fight against breast cancer. Through the Women’s Cancer Programs of the Entertainment Industry Foundation, Lee National Denim Day will support groundbreaking early detection and treatment research at leading cancer centers and provide community breast cancer education services nationwide. Lee Jeans will ask Americans to don denim on October 5, all with the hope of making significant research discoveries and ultimately eliminating breast and reproductive cancers from our lives.

The graphs below demonstrate just how the program has grown over the years.