Fannie May Candies Announces PINK Campaign Fundraiser for Breast Cancer Awareness Month - Chicago's First Lady Maggie Daley to Serve as Honorary Chair
Fannie May Candies announces PINK Campaign Fundraiser and Chicago's First Lady as Honorary Chair. Proceeds of Fannie May's PINK Confections sold during Breast Cancer Awareness Month to benefit five Chicago cancer organizations.
CHICAGO, IL (PRWEB) September 21, 2006 -- Fannie May® Candies is pleased to announce that its “Support the Cause” PINK Campaign fundraiser to benefit five local cancer centers during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, will include First Lady Maggie Daley in the role of Honorary Chair.
“We are grateful to Chicago’s First Lady for joining with us and the Coleman Foundation to support the cause,” said David Taiclet, CEO of Fannie May. “As Honorary Chair, Mrs. Daley represents the spirit of this campaign through the positive attitude that she has maintained while undergoing her own treatment for breast cancer, and she continues to be an inspiration to all Chicagoans.”
“Breast Cancer Awareness Month strikes an emotional chord with me for the thousands of Chicago women who will benefit from the message about early detection,” said Mrs. Daley. “I applaud Fannie May and the Coleman Foundation for embracing this important cause, and the five local cancer centers whose work throughout the year improves the quality of life for those Chicago citizens dealing with cancer.”
Through October, Fannie May will donate 10 percent of the sales of its NEW Pink Drizzled Pixies®, Pink Mint Meltaways® and other PINK Confections to five local cancer organizations: Cancer Wellness Center in Northbrook, Gilda’s Club Chicago, Jennifer S. Fallick Cancer Support Center in Homewood, Wellness House in Hinsdale, and Wellness Place in Palatine. The Centers provide resources and guidance free of charge for people who are dealing with cancer, to complement their medical care. Fannie May expects to donate up to $50,000 through this fundraiser, which will be matched dollar-for-dollar by a grant from the Chicago-based Coleman Foundation for a potential donation to the Centers of up to $100,000, besting last year’s $85,000 donation.
“We are proud to be a Chicago icon and steadfast in our ongoing commitment to give back to the community, which has been a key to the growth and success of our business for the past 85 years,” said Fannie May’s Director of Marketing Jan Waanders. “Following a meeting in 2005 with Michael Hennessy of the Coleman Foundation, we agreed that it was incumbent upon Fannie May to take part in Breast Cancer Awareness Month to help make a difference in the lives of our most loyal customers, as well as the over 400 full- and part-time Fannie May employees in Chicago, and their families.”
The American Cancer Society estimates that one in eight women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime and that as many as 9,250 new female breast cancer cases will be diagnosed in Illinois by the end of this year. Breast Cancer Awareness Month is designed to remind women that early detection saves lives.
“Based on the tremendous response to our first-year campaign, and with the addition of Pink Pixies to the line-up, we’re confident that Fannie May customers will ‘Support the Cause’ to help meet our fundraising goal,” said Waanders. “We appreciate the Coleman Foundation for continuing its philanthropic legacy through this partnership.”
Featuring the familiar pink ribbon symbol for breast cancer awareness and packaged in pink gift wrap, the Limited Edition PINK Confections will be available at all 52 Fannie May Shops in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin, at Jewel-Osco, Dominick’s, Cub Foods, and select Walgreen’s retail outlets, and other independent retailers where pre-packaged Fannie May Candies are sold, and at www.fanniemay.com.
The specially designed assortment of Fannie May PINK Confections includes:
| | - Pink Pixies – Combination of rich caramel, luscious chocolate and crunchy pecans, drizzled with pink pastel coating
- Pink Mint Meltaways – Mint chocolate center in creamy pink pastel coating
- Pink Ladies – Coconut center in creamy pink pastel coating and toasted coconut
- Peppermint Ice – Pastel coating with crunchy peppermint pieces
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Also available will be Dark Chocolate Squares and Solid Milk Chocolate Lollipops. Suggested retail prices range from $1.19 for a lollipop to $19.99 for a one-pound box of Pink Drizzled Pixies.
Fannie May is supporting the PINK Campaign with pink ribbon “Support the Cause”-themed in-store and window signage, local print advertising and public relations, including the distribution of informational brochures to related fundraising events and to local hospitals and women-owned businesses throughout Chicago-land.
“We are grateful to Fannie May and the Coleman Foundation for their generous support and for increasing awareness of the breast cancer cause through this PINK Campaign,” said Nancy Laatsch, executive director of the Cancer Wellness Center in Northbrook and president of the Cancer Health Alliance, a consortium that also includes the Jennifer S. Fallick Cancer Support Center, Wellness House, and Wellness Place.
“This local fundraiser not only works to remind women over 40 of the importance of early detection through annual mammography screenings, but also increases awareness among those Chicagoans affected by cancer of the support services available through our five organizations,” said LauraJane Hyde, executive director of Gilda’s Club Chicago.
About The Coleman Foundation
The Foundation was established by Dorothy W. and J.D. Coleman, who owned and actively managed Fannie May Shops until the time of their deaths in the late 1970’s. Since 1981, the independent Foundation has developed and supported substantial programs in Cancer, Education and Disabilities – mostly in the metro Chicago area.
“We look for strategic, vital, sustainable programs that create change,” explained Coleman Foundation President/CEO Michael Hennessy. “We also like to help create partnerships that increase local awareness and strengthen organizations. This project facilitates both elements.” Hennessy explained that the Foundation has supported the five individual Centers (Cancer Wellness Center, Gilda’s Club Chicago, Jennifer S. Fallick Cancer Support Center, Wellness House, and Wellness Place) for some time.
“The collaboration of these Centers has not only improved their individual programs, but also has created new initiatives that have benefited the entire metropolitan region. We are pleased to continue our support and partnership with these Centers and with Fannie May.”
For more information, visit www.colemanfoundation.org.
About Fannie May Candies
Founded in Chicago in 1920 by H. Teller Archibald, Fannie May Candies operates 52 shops in four Midwestern states. The company offers over 80 different kinds of chocolate candies, including best-selling Pixies and hand-pick assortments. Pre-packaged selections are also available at Jewel-Osco, Dominick’s, Cub Foods, select Walgreen’s retail outlets, and other independent retailers, and at www.fanniemay.com. In May 2006, Fannie May Confections was acquired by the leading provider of thoughtful gifts, 1-800-FLOWERS.COM® (for more information, visit www.1800flowers.com). Fannie May continues to sell its chocolates through their retail shops and partners, as well as through their website and catalogs.
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