Penelope Cruz Announced as EIF Ambassador to Saks Fifth Avenues 2012 Key To The Cure Campaign

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Saks Fifth Avenue and the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF) announced today that actress Penelope Cruz has been named the EIF ambassador for Saks Fifth Avenues 2012 Key To The Cure campaign. In the 14 years since the inception of the Saks Fifth Avenue charity shopping weekend, the company, together with its vendors and partners, has raised $31 million for cancer research.

Celebrated designer Carolina Herrera created a limited-edition T-shirt exclusively to benefit Key To The Cure that will retail for $35 at Saks Fifth Avenue and Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH stores and on saks.com. One hundred percent of the proceeds from each shirt sold will be donated to EIF's Women's Cancer Research Fund, benefiting charitable programs dedicated to finding new detection methods, better treatments and eventual cures for women's cancers. The T-shirt debuts at Saks Fifth Avenue on October 1st.

"I am honored to join the Entertainment Industry Foundation's Women's Cancer Research Fund and Saks Fifth Avenue to raise awareness for women's cancers. By purchasing this year's SAKS FIFTH AVENUE KEY TO THE CURE t-shirt, designed by Carolina Herrera, you can help continue the innovative research already in progress. Cancer has affected each and every one of us in one way or another and I am thrilled to be involved with this wonderful cause, says Penelope Cruz.

Steve Sadove, Chairman and CEO, Saks Fifth Avenue, said, Partnering with Carolina Herrera, EIFs Womens Cancer Research Fund, and Penelope Cruzand having the continued support of various charities throughout the country, as well as the support of our clients, vendors and Associatesis a testament to Key To The Cures legacy in uniting our communities to raise critical funds for awareness about this cause year after year.

Carolina Herrera states, "It is a pleasure and honor to partner with Saks on the Key to the Cure project this year. It's wonderful to see both fashion and philanthropy brought together to serve! a great er purpose. The design of the t-shirt had to be both meaningful and pleasing to the eye and I think we've accomplished just that."

Ms. Cruz will appear in a national public service announcement (PSA) wearing the Carolina Herrera limited-edition T-shirt. The Key To The Cure PSA will appear in major fashion and lifestyle magazines in September and October.

Saks Fifth Avenues charity shopping weekend will take place Thursday through Sunday, October 18 to 21, at all Saks Fifth Avenue and Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH stores nationwide and on saks.com.

Saks Fifth Avenue initiated its charity shopping weekend in 1999. Since then, the company has donated $31 million to womens cancer research and treatment organizations throughout the United States. Organizations benefiting from these funds include: The Breast Cancer Research Foundation; EIFs Womens Cancer Research Fund; Cleveland Clinic; Bostons Dana-Farber Cancer Institute; Nevada Cancer Institute and many others.

With the success of the February Charity Program, in which Saks customers gave 5% of all registered purchases made with a registered Saks Fifth Avenue credit card back to charity, Saks Fifth Avenue is bringing its charitable initiatives under one banner for the first time. A new Saks Gives logo will highlight Saks Fifth Avenues dedication to charity. Saks Gives will brand the companys charitable service through philanthropic giving and active outreach, both locally and nationally.

About EIFs Womens Cancer Research Fund

The Womens Cancer Research Fund, an Entertainment Industry Foundation Program, supports innovative research, education, and outreach directed at the development of more effective approaches to the early diagnosis, treatment and prevention of all womens cancers. Through an ambitious, first of its kind scientific project, called EIFs WCRF Biomarker Breast Cancer Discovery Project, world-class scientists have collaborated to identify markers in the blood that signals the prese! nce of b reast cancer. These findings could, one day, lead to the development of a blood test to detect breast cancer in its beginning, most-curable stages. The Fund also supports research being conducted at prestigious, National Cancer Institute (NCI)-accredited medical institutions primarily based in Los Angeles. For more information, visit www.womenscancerresearchfund.org.

About the Entertainment Industry Foundation

The Entertainment Industry Foundation, 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. For more information, visit www.eifoundation.org.

About Saks Fifth Avenue

Saks Fifth Avenue, one of the worlds preeminent specialty retailers, is renowned for its superlative American and international designer collections, its expertly edited assortment of handbags, shoes, jewelry, cosmetics and gifts, and the first-rate fashion expertise and exemplary client service of its Associates. Today, Saks operates 45 full-line stores in 21 states, 2 licensed stores in the Middle East and 2 licensed stores in Mexico City, 61 Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH stores and saks.com, the companys online store.

Saks Fifth Avenue is proud to be named a J.D. Power and Associates 2012 Customer Service Champion and is only one of 50 U.S. companies so named.