- Three Hispanic breast cancer survivors honored by Ford for their courageous battle against breast cancer and their inspiration to others in the community.
- A 14-year national sponsor of the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure®, Ford has dedicated more than $95 million in cash and in-kind donations to save lives and end breast cancer.
- Ford renews its commitment for the cause and continues to raise money for Susan G. Komen for the Cure with the 2008 Warriors in Pink collection – an extensive collection of apparel and accessories for women, men, and children available at www.fordcares.com and www.fordenespanol.com/saluddelseno.
DEARBORN, Mich., Sept. 29, 2008 – To continue raising awareness about early detection and prevention of breast cancer, Ford with its Warriors in Pink program is teaming up with Susan G. Komen for the Cure® to honor three Hispanic women for being examples of true warriors.
The Ford Warriors in Pink campaign recognizes special women whose strength and courage allowed them to overcome the fight against breast cancer and are now helping other women in their communities do the same.
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According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is the most frequent cancer affecting Hispanic women, and yet they are least likely to solicit and obtain medical information about breast cancer among women in all ethnic groups.
This year Ford is honored to recognize three Hispanic women – Itzel Diaz from Miami; Rosa Garcia-Viteri from Los Angeles and Alma Horvath from Dallas. After battling breast cancer, these women are now dedicated to providing support to other breast cancer survivors and raising awareness about the importance of early detection.
"Cancer has done two things for me. It has given me the opportunity to make life better each time it has challenged me, and it has emphasized the need and responsibility I have to share my story to help others and spread public awareness," said Rosa Garcia-Viteri, Los Angeles' Warrior in Pink. "I'm a 56 year-old female who has fought five separate battles of breast cancer and survived for 24 years. By using myself as an example, it gives people hope that it can be done!"
The Warriors in Pink campaign is meant to empower women to have a brave heart and a determined soul, to fight like a warrior for the day when our world no longer loses our loved ones to breast cancer. Whether through a long-time survivor, someone who is currently fighting the disease or someone who understands the urgency to eliminate this threat, Ford wants to show that there is a warrior within all women, men and children.
Embarking on its 14th year of support for Komen for the Cure, the leader of the breast cancer movement, Ford has dedicated more than $95 million in cash and in-kind donations to save lives and end breast cancer. In honor of this year's three Hispanic warriors, Ford will donate $1,000 in each of their names to their local affiliate of Komen for the Cure.
"We are pleased that Ford is continuing its commitment to Komen and recognizing Hispanic Warriors in our communities for the second year in a row," said Katrina McGhee, vice president of marketing for Susan G. Komen for the Cure. "We hope that these true Warriors in Pink continue to offer their support and encouragement to women battling breast cancer and that together we can find the cures for this disease.
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In addition to the donation to Komen on behalf of the Hispanic Warriors, Ford continues to drum up support for the organization through the sale of its popular and trendy Warriors in Pink collection, which features apparel and accessories for women and men feature important symbols signifying the message of hope, strength and unity in the commitment to fight against breast cancer.
This year, the line has grown with the addition of practical items such as travel tumblers, key chains and license plate frames as well as new designs in their apparel collection.
All apparel and accessories are available on www.fordenespanol.com/saluddelseno, and 100 percent of net proceeds will be donated to Komen for the Cure. Last year, the line of apparel generated more than $1 million in sales, with all net proceeds going to Komen for the Cure.
Those in the market for a new car can also support the cause as Ford has introduced the 2009 Ford Mustang with the Warriors in Pink package. The limited-edition package includes custom floor mats, pink stitching on leather seats and the steering wheels and the breast cancer emblem on the front of the car among other special features. Ford will donate to Komen $500 for every 2009 Warriors in Pink Mustang sold.
"We are so proud to be able to recognize Hispanic warriors in our communities again this year. These courageous women really inspire others to muster the strength to fight breast cancer and also spread the word about the importance of early detection," said Connie Fontaine, Brand Content and Alliances Manager for Ford Motor Company. "With the recognition of our warriors and our 2008 Warriors in Pink apparel collection, we hope to have yet another successful year of increasing awareness and support for breast cancer."
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Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles in 200 markets across six continents. With about 229,000 employees and about 90 plants worldwide, the company's core and affiliated automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo and Mazda. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford's products, please visit www.ford.com.
About Susan G. Komen for the Cure®
Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever. In 1982, that promise became Susan G. Komen for the Cure and launched the global breast cancer movement. Today, Komen for the Cure is the world's largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures. Thanks to events like the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure®, we have invested more than $1 billion to fulfill our promise, becoming the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world. For more information about Susan G. Komen for the Cure, breast health or breast cancer, visit www.komen.org or call 1-877 GO KOMEN.
