05/09/2007 - Mariska Hargitay Joins Lee National Denim Day

To listen to an interview with Lisa Paulsen, President and CEO of Entertainment Industry Foundation, click here.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contacts:

Mariska Hargitay Joins Lee National Denim Day as the 2007 Ambassador on Behalf of the Entertainment Industry Foundation

Hargitay invites men and women to don denim on October 5th

MERRIAM, KS – Emmy Award-winning actress Mariska Hargitay has been named the 2007 Ambassador for Lee National Denim Day—one of the country’s largest single-day fundraisers for breast cancer—which benefits the Women’s Cancer Programs of the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF). As this year’s ambassador, Hargitay brings a strong personal commitment to help in the fight against the disease.

In her role as ambassador, Hargitay will appear in a public service campaign encouraging people to wear denim on Friday, October 5th in exchange for a $5 donation to the Women’s Cancer Programs of EIF. Funds will go to groundbreaking early detection and treatment research for breast cancer, as well as support grassroots advocacy services for the disease. Since the creation of Denim Day eleven years ago, more than $65 million has been raised for the cause.

“I’m honored to join Lee Jeans and the Entertainment Industry Foundation as an ambassador of this worthwhile campaign,” said Hargitay, who is supporting the program in honor of the many friends and family who are breast cancer survivors. “Lee National Denim Day is an easy way for friends, family, and co-workers to support pioneering breast-cancer research and unite in offering hope to all women who must fight this battle.”

Net proceeds from Lee National Denim Day will help advance some of the most promising breast cancer treatment and early detection research in the country. Specifically, Lee Denim Day funds will be used by the Women’s Cancer Programs to:

• Establish the Lee Jeans Translational Laboratories which has brought together top-flight scientists at leading medical institutions including: Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center/David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA; The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center/Johns Hopkins University Medical Institutions; Vanderbilt-Ingram Breast Cancer Program/Vanderbilt University; Havard Medical School; Pritzker School of Medicine/University of Chicago; and Baylor College of Medicine.

• Support EIF’s Breast Cancer Biomarker Discovery Project, a multi-year coalition effort by nationally and internationally recognized scientists and clinicians, including four Nobel laureates, who are collaborating in a groundbreaking research project to develop a blood test that can detect breast cancer at an early stage when survival rates are highest. Medical institutions receiving funding include: Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center; Institute for Systems Biology; Broad Institute of MIT & Harvard; Harvard Medical School/Dana Farber Cancer Institutes; University of Southern California/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center; and Battelle/Pacific Northwest Laboratory.

• Provide grassroots support to EIF’s long-standing beneficiary the National Breast Cancer Coalition – the nation’s leading grassroots breast cancer advocacy organization – to build out more evidence-based breast cancer web-based and print resources to help individuals make more informed decisions about breast cancer risk, diagnosis and treatments options.

“As Lee National Denim Day enters year 12, we’re very excited to be able to focus on medical research. EIF’s Breast Cancer Biomarker Discovery Project and the creation of the Lee Jeans Translational Laboratories are two projects we are proud to bring to Lee National Denim Day participants who have been giving for so many years,” said Liz Cahill, VP of Marketing/Communications for Lee Jeans. “Lee is looking forward to putting this money to work to help make a difference in the millions of lives affected by breast cancer.”

Renowned photographer Jim Wright generously donated his time to photograph Ms. Hargitay for the campaign. Wright has worked with some of the most distinguished faces in Hollywood. The PSA will appear in major fashion and lifestyle magazines in August through October.

Companies, schools or organizations that register by visiting www.denimday.com or calling 1.800.521.5533 will receive a comprehensive participation kit, which includes educational materials about breast cancer in addition to supplies for easy coordination.

Last year, more than 18,000 companies across the nation participated in this single day fundraiser. More than $5 million was raised for the fight against breast cancer.

Lee® Jeans is a division of VF Corporation. (NYSE: VFC). Headquartered in Merriam Kan., Lee manufactures and markets brand denim, casual pants, shirts, fleece and knit apparel. A brand committed to the community, Lee Jeans founded Lee National Denim Day®, the largest single-day fundraiser for breast cancer. VF Corporation is a leader in branded lifestyle apparel including jeanswear, outdoor products, image apparel and sportswear. It’s principal brands include Wrangler®, Lee®, Riders®, Rustler®, The North Face®, Vans®, Reef®, Napapijri®, Kipling®, Nautica®, John Varvatos®, JanSport®, Eastpak®, Eagle Creek®, Lee Sport® and Red Kap®. VF Corporation’s press releases, annual report and other information can be accessed through the Company’s home page, www.vfc.com.

The Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF), as a leading charitable organization of the entertainment industry, has distributed hundreds of millions of dollars to support charitable initiatives addressing critical health, education and social issues.

Through its Women’s Cancer Programs, the Entertainment Industry Foundation is committed to saving lives by raising awareness about the importance of early detection of breast and reproductive cancers, providing funds to advance treatment research, early detection methods, and supporting community programs that assist the millions of women and their families at risk of or affected by cancer.

EIF has a remarkable track record in raising awareness and funds in the fight against cancer. EIF’s funding strategy is results-driven, bringing together some of the very best scientists and institutions in the country to collaborate in groundbreaking research projects to fast-track better prevention methods and improved therapies for treatment of breast and other women’s cancers. EIF grants have helped accelerate research that has contributed to the development of a breakthrough gene treatment called Herceptin®, the first successful drug that seeks out a particular gene found in one of three cases of the most aggressive form of breast cancer. EIF grants have also supported other state-of-the-art therapies bringing new and innovative treatment approaches to breast cancer worldwide.

For questions about EIF’s Women’s Cancer Programs and information about breast cancer, visit eifoundation.org or call 800-426-0010.

Join Lee Jeans, Mariska Hargitay and the Entertainment Industry Foundation in the fight against breast cancer. Wear denim on October 5th, and make a $5 contribution to benefit local breast cancer prevention services, and advance groundbreaking early detection and treatment research at leading cancer centers nationwide. To sign up, call1-800-521-5533 or visit www.denimday.com.