SAN JOSE, Calif. --(BUSINESS WIRE)--Throughout the month of October, eBay Inc. users will notice a pink hue to the world’s largest online marketplace. That’s because eBay Giving Works, the company’s charity fundraising program, will be hosting its 8th annual fundraising campaign in honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The fundraiser, called “Make It Pink,” will benefit nonprofit organizations doing critical work to educate the public, save lives and find a cure for breast cancer, which kills more than 40,000 women and 400 men annually.*
“We created the New Year’s Eve Experience auction package in an effort to build a memorable experience while supporting a brilliant cause which is close to our hearts.”
There are several easy ways to support breast cancer organizations on eBay during the month of October and beyond: consumers can shop for great items-- including clothing and accessories, home goods, toys, sports and recreational equipment, books and memorabilia-- that benefit breast cancer organizations; they can donate any dollar amount to a featured breast cancer organization when they check out on eBay using PayPal; or they can sell on eBay and donate from 1 to 100 percent of an item’s sale price to their favorite breast cancer organization and receive credits of basic eBay fees, equal to the percentage of their donation.
“So many of us at eBay, and in our overall community, have been personally touched by breast cancer and want to contribute to the cause in any way we can,” said Richelle Parham, Chief Marketing Officer of eBay, North America. “The goal of our Make it Pink campaign is to make it easy, convenient and fun for people to donate to their favorite organizations, in order to arm those organizations with the resources they need to help fight this disease.”
Last year’s campaign raised $242,000 for breast cancer awareness and drove 58,000 listings on eBay that benefited breast cancer organizations.
Throughout October, eBay will feature a different breast cancer organization each week at http://www.ebay.com/pink. Featured organizations include the Avon Foundation for Women, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Bright Pink and American Cancer Society. eBay users will have an opportunity to bid on various charity auction items each week, such as a Christian Louboutin Black Suede lace up boots and a Marc Jacobs Navy Blue Satin Zipper dress worn by famous pop artist Fergie. The proceeds from this auction will benefit the Avon Foundation, the largest corporate philanthropy dedicated to women's causes globally.
“Pink means something to many of us. You may have been touched by breast cancer,” said Fergie, six-time Grammy-award winning artist and Avon spokesperson. “I have. Both my mother and father are cancer survivors and I lost my grandmother to cancer three years ago. As a global ambassador for the Avon Foundation for Women, I am asking you to help make a difference for women, men and their families in the fight against breast cancer.”
Another charity auction item is a New Year’s Eve VIP experience in New York City. Among other features, the charity auction package includes a shopping spree at Aerie, the intimates and apparel brand from American Eagle Outfitters; the auction winner’s photo circulated on a 25-story LED screen outside the retailer’s Times Square flagship; and two VIP tickets to ABC’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve Celebration with Ryan Seacrest, all benefiting Chicago-based Bright Pink, a nonprofit organization geared towards young women who are at high risk for breast and ovarian cancer.
“Aerie is about being confident, natural and feeling great about yourself, so partnering with Bright Pink is a natural fit for us, as the organization's mission and work affect our customers profoundly,” said Joan Hilson, Chief Financial Officer of American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. and founding board member of Bright Pink. “We created the New Year’s Eve Experience auction package in an effort to build a memorable experience while supporting a brilliant cause which is close to our hearts.”
Additionally, eBay is hosting a fundraising campaign on Facebook and invites individuals to upload a short story and photo describing why breast cancer awareness is an important issue for them. For every story uploaded, eBay will donate $1 (up to $20,000) to its four featured nonprofit partners. Each submission is also an entry into a weekly drawing for a $1000 eBay shopping spree.
Since the inception of eBay Giving Works in 2003, eBay buyers and sellers have raised more than $250 million for U.S. and U.K. nonprofit organizations. eBay Giving Works is part of eBay’s Global Citizenship programs that include the eBay Green Team, which inspires the eBay community to sell and buy more sustainably; WorldofGood.com, a global marketplace for environmentally and socially responsible shopping; and MicroPlace, PayPal’s micro finance venture.
About eBay
Founded in 1995 in San Jose, Calif., eBay Inc. (NASDAQ:EBAY) is about connecting buyers and sellers. We do so through eBay, the world’s largest online marketplace, which allows users to buy and sell on eBay platforms in nearly every country on earth; through PayPal, which enables individuals and businesses to securely, easily and quickly send and receive online payments; and through GSI Commerce, which facilitates ecommerce, multichannel retailing and digital marketing for global enterprises. We also reach millions through specialized marketplaces such as StubHub, the world’s largest ticket marketplace, and eBay classifieds sites, which together have a presence in more than 1,000 cities around the world. For more information about the company and its global portfolio of online brands, visit www.ebayinc.com.
*American Cancer Society Breast Cancer Facts & Figures 2009-2010