FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Hundreds of retailers will hold concurrent fundraisers Oct. 8 – 16 for Alex’s Lemonade Stand and local children’s hospitals to benefit pediatric cancer research across the country
IRVINE, Calif. (Sept. 27, 2005) – For nine days this October, Volvo retailers nationwide will join forces to conduct simultaneous events at their facilities to raise funds for pediatric cancer research –– making it one of the largest cause related programs in the company’s history.
Oct. 8 - 16, Volvo retailers will be conducting “Volvo for life Days,” featuring a variety of fund raising activities to benefit local children’s hospitals through Alex’s Lemonade Stand, a national pediatric cancer research charity that raises funds through lemonade stands.
During the effort, Volvo retailers will call on people from their local communities to visit their facilities to test drive a Volvo car. For every test drive taken, the Volvo retailer will donate $20 on the driver’s behalf to the charities. While there, visitors can buy cups of lemonade from Alex’s Lemonade Stands. Select retailers also will be conducting a variety of other fund-raising activities.
At the conclusion of the events, Volvo retailers will donate funds raised to Alex’s Lemonade Stand to benefit local children’s hospitals. Fundraiser locations and information about participating local children’s hospitals can be found at www.volvoforlifeawards.com.
“Each year, more than 14,000 kids are diagnosed with some form of cancer, but research into treatment for cancer in kids is limited,” said Anne Bélec, Volvo Cars of North America’s president and chief executive officer. “Pediatric cancer research is important to the Volvo family, and Volvo for life Days is a way for us to manifest these beliefs at our Volvo retail facilities.”
Program Localizes Company’s Hero Search Program
Bélec added the company created the initiative as a way to localize the benefits of its Volvo for life Awards program (www.volvoforlifeawards.com), an annual national search for and celebration of local heroes, which provides $1 million in contributions each year to honor everyday heroes and local charities.
“Volvo for life Days marries the Volvo for life Awards’ commitment to promoting the values of conscience, care and character in communities across America with our business of creating some of the safest, best quality and most environmentally friendly vehicles on earth,“ Bélec said. “And, it does this on the ground in communities across the nation.”
Volvo for life Days Inspired by Alexandra Scott
Alex’s Lemonade Stand was founded by Alexandra Scott, a young cancer patient from Philadelphia who gained national attention for her efforts to raise money for pediatric cancer by holding annual lemonade stands. In 2003, Scott was one of the original winning heroes in the first Volvo for life Awards. Sadly, Scott passed away Aug. 1, 2004, at age eight, and her family continues her mission in her honor through Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, a registered non-profit. The mission of the organization is to raise money for childhood cancer and to encourage and educate others to raise money for childhood cancer by holding their own lemonade stands. Alex’s family and supporters are committed to continuing her inspiring legacy until a cure for all pediatric cancers is found.
“Alex was a true hero, who humbled us with her ability to live life to the fullest and to help others,” Bélec said. “Her dream of helping kids who suffer from cancer touched the hearts of thousands of Volvo employees in large cities and small towns nationwide. This year, her family has set goal of raising $5 million, and we’re proud to do what we can to help her reach that goal.”
For more information on Volvo for life Days and the Volvo for life Awards, visit www.volvoforlifeawards.com.
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Contact:
Eric Davis
Haberman & Associates
612-372-6447
eric@modernstorytellers.com.
Sören Johansson
Volvo Cars of North America
949-341-6719
sjohan44@volvocars.com.
