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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | ||
| VOLVO EMPLOYEES UNITE TO FIGHT PEDIATRIC CANCER | ||
| Hundreds of retailers will hold concurrent fundraisers Oct. 8 16 for Alexs Lemonade Stand and local childrens 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 companys history. | ||
| Oct. 8 - 16, Volvo retailers will be conducting Volvo for life Days,featuring a variety of fund raising activities to benefit local childrens hospitals through Alexs 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 drivers behalf to the charities. While there, visitors can buy cups of lemonade from Alexs 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 Alexs Lemonade Stand to benefit local childrens hospitals. Fundraiser locations and information about participating local childrens 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 Americas 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 Companys 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 Awardscommitment 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 | ||
| Alexs 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 Alexs 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. Alexs 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 were 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. | ||
| # # # | ||
| Contact: | ||
| Eric Davis | ||
| Haberman & Associates | ||
| 612-372-6447 | ||
| eric@modernstorytellers.com. | ||
| Sören Johansson | ||
| Volvo Cars of North America | ||
| 949-341-6719 | ||
| sjohan44@volvocars.com. |