C-store Chains Support Breast Cancer Awareness Month

SAN RAMON, Calif. -- In honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Chevron Global Marketing introduced its newest addition to The Chevron Cars family, Promise, the sixth special edition Chevron Car created to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research. All net proceeds of the sale of Promise will be donated to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, the company reported.

"Supporting the Susan G. Komen Foundation and Breast Cancer Awareness Month through donations and outreach in the communities we serve has been our commitment for many years," said Shariq Yosufzai, president of Chevron Global Marketing. "Before Susan G. Komen passed away, her sister made a promise to help build awareness of breast cancer. We're committed to the cause through our long-standing relationship with the foundation, helping bring this promise between sisters to life."

The Promise cars are available at select Chevron retail locations across the United States for a suggested retail price of $6.99, or by visiting www.ChevronCars.com. Each year since 2001, Chevron has introduced a special edition Chevron Car to raise breast cancer awareness and since 2001, has donated nearly $1.3 million to the cause through sales of the cars.

The company also supports breast cancer awareness and raises funds for medical research through its participation in Komen Race for the Cure events throughout the U.S. Chevron is also launching an online breast cancer awareness campaign in partnership with Warner Bros. Online and Ellen DeGeneres, a breast cancer advocate for the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Online users can visit http://ellen.warnerbros.com for facts about early detection and how to support the cause. Chevron will also have its own microsite at www.chevron.com/products/BCA, featuring Promise, Komen Race for the Cure dates and ways to get involved and help, according to the company.

"It is vitally important to support breast cancer awareness," said Danny Roden, vice president of Chevron North America Marketing. "Breast cancer is a disease that affects so many of our lives, including the lives of Chevron employees around the globe. October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and unveiling our special edition Promise car is another way that Chevron is taking part in the fight against breast cancer."

Additionally, new to Chevron's breast cancer awareness efforts, this year the company is creating education materials and programs aimed at educating Hispanic women regarding the importance of self-exams and mammograms. Statistics show that breast cancer is more prevalent among Hispanic women due to a lack of education about breast cancer prevention and access to healthcare, the company reported. The disease is also said to be the leading cause of cancer deaths among Hispanic women.

Another c-store chain, 7-Eleven, is commemorating Breast Cancer Awareness month with new and exclusive products at stores to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research in hopes that it will generate half a million dollars in the month-long campaign.

The money is raises will support cancer organizations such as the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, the City of Hope National Medical Center, the Avon Walk for breast cancer, the Nellie B. Connally Breast Cancer Foundation at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and Athena Partners.

"October is an important month for breast cancer because it keeps the issue in the forefront," Gail Bonfiglio, a breast cancer survivor and 7-Eleven market manager said. "Young women think it can't happen to them. Well, it can happen to anyone. Studies put the number of women who will face this disease at one in eight. At the very least, Breast Cancer Awareness Month may spur women to make an appointment for a mammogram. Early detection can make all the difference in the world."

7-Eleven worked with several manufacturers to offer the products -- Frito-Lay, The Seattle Chocolate Co. and M&M's, among others. A portion of the proceeds from sales of the items will be donated to breast cancer education programs and research.

Frito-Lay will change its packaging for SunChips brand chips at 7-Eleven stores to "Crunch for the Cure" pink bags in flavors Harvest Cheddar, French Onion and Garden Salsa. For every sale, 25 cents will be donated to the Komen Foundation. Frito-Lay has committed to donating up to $410,000 to the foundation through the sale of the chips.

The Seattle Chocolate Company, maker of all-natural, preservative-free Chick Chocolates, will supply 7-Eleven stores with exclusive "Survivor Chicks" -- raspberry-flavored white chocolate covered in dark chocolate. Three chocolates are packaged in a 5-inch tall box. All the proceeds from the sale of the chocolates will be donated to Athena Partners, a nonprofit corporation founded by a Seattle-area cancer survivor that seeks to eliminate women's cancers through research and education.

7-Eleven also employed M&M's for its fundraiser. Bags of dark and light pink colored M&M's will be sold in stores in specially marked 14-ounce packages for $2.50. With the sale, 35 cents will be donated to the Komen Foundation.

The sale of Awareness Mints, packaged in a pink tin, will raise money for City of Hope, a biomedical research and treatment center in California and the Avon Walk, a series of events across the U.S. that raise money for the Avon Foundation's Breast Cancer Crusade. In addition, the Awareness message ballpoint pen is back in 7-Eleven stores. With a click of the pen, one of four encouraging messages is displayed. Proceeds from the sale of the pen will benefit the Nellie B. Connally foundation.

"Everyone knows someone who has suffered from this disease," said Kimberly Smith, 7-Eleven category manager for non-foods merchandise. "Our customers want to help others, and our goal is to offer them convenient ways to help make a difference. Whenever we offer products for a cause, the sales prove that customers want to get involved and contribute."
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