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Macy's Fashions New Go Red For Women Multicultural Fund
NEW YORK-(Business Wire)-January 22, 2008 - As a national sponsor of the American Heart Association's Go Red For Women movement, Macy's (NYSE:M) is ramping up support for the organization's February campaign in celebration of American Heart Month. This year, in addition to national and regional in-store events, Macy's is pioneering an innovative program to enhance and expand its relationship with the American Heart Association, the Macy's Go Red For Women Multicultural Fund. This new endeavor is designed to help raise awareness of cardiovascular disease and to focus health programs at high-risk populations.
The Fund will initially extend outreach and support to Hispanic women, a population found to have lower awareness of the disease, through a series of targeted programs that include a Spanish-translated heart health guide, a grant to be awarded to fund critical research in the field, support from prominent members of the Latina community and participation in regional health expo events. Plans for ongoing programming directed at other high-risk populations are in development.
In addition to the Macy's Go Red For Women Multicultural Fund, Macy's will be celebrating the movement beginning on Friday, February 1, with national "Wear Red Day", offering customers who visit stores wearing red or who contribute a $2 donation to the American Heart Association, a special shopping reward on select purchases made that day. Macy's stores will also feature a selection of exclusive Geoffrey Beene menswear throughout the month with a portion of the proceeds donated to the cause.
"Celebrating our fifth year as the national sponsor of the Go Red For Women movement, Macy's is as passionate about this cause today as we were when we partnered with the American Heart Association to launch the movement in February 2004," said Peter Sachse, president, Macy's Corporate Marketing. "Together, we have made substantial strides in raising the awareness of heart disease as the number one killer of American women. As we continue to elevate the awareness of heart disease risk among all women and men, we have developed this unique program to broaden our reach and to target education and support to populations where the message has not been as pervasive. Raising the profile of women's heart health is a profound commitment for our company, and we continue to build our support each year in both dollars and visibility for the cause."
With the Go Red movement's growing momentum and the increasing number of celebrities, healthcare professionals and influencers drawing attention to the importance of women's health, awareness of heart disease and prevention for women is gradually becoming more mainstream. In fact, according to the women's heart health tracking study by the American Heart Association, the public's awareness of heart disease as the leading cause of death for women has nearly doubled, increasing from 30 percent in 1997 to 57 percent in 2006.
To date, the American Heart Association has received more than $15 million from the full scope of Macy's sponsorship initiatives.
Components of Macy's Go Red For Women Multicultural Fund
— Macy's Go Red For Women Multicultural Award As part of the Macy's Go Red For Women Multicultural Fund, a Postdoctoral Fellowship Award or a Scientist Development Grant will be funded with a focus on heart disease in Hispanic women. Closely collaborating with the American Heart Association's renowned scientists, a research project will be chosen for the grant based on merit and its future impact on the field.
— Heart Health Guide for Women In conjunction with the American Heart Association, Macy's has created an educational Heart Health Guide for Latina women. Featuring useful information and tips for a heart healthy lifestyle, these Spanish-language guides will be distributed at select Macy's store events, via the Spanish publications Siempre Mujer and Selecciones and in other appropriate locations throughout key markets.
National "Wear Red Day"
To kick-off American Heart Month, Macy's is celebrating customers who participate in National "Wear Red Day" on February 1 by offering a 15 percent savings pass on a broad selection of apparel and accessories for those donning the signature heart health color. For those who forget their red, Macy's is offering a Go Red For Women Red Dress pin and a 15 percent savings pass with a $2 donation to the Association. All contributions received will benefit the Go Red For Women movement.
Exclusive Geoffrey Beene Product
In an effort to raise additional proceeds for Go Red For Women, the Geoffrey Beene Foundation has partnered exclusively with Macy's to offer a donation of 10 percent on the sale of select men's dress shirts, cufflinks and neckwear from the Geoffrey Beene Collection during the month of February. Running from Friday, February 1 through Friday, February 29, the sale of such selected Geoffrey Beene product can raise up to an additional $500,000 for Go Red For Women.
About Go Red For Women
Since 2004, Go Red For Women has captured the energy, passion and intelligence of women to work collectively to wipe out heart disease — the No. 1 killer of women. We want millions of women across America to take heart disease personally. Using the platform "Love Your Heart," Go Red For Women engages women and the men who love them to embrace the cause. Healthcare providers, celebrities and politicians also elevate the cause and spread the word about women and heart disease. For more information about Go Red For Women, please call 1-888-MY-HEART (1-888-694-3278) or visit GoRedForWomen.org. The movement is nationally sponsored by Macy's and Merck & Co., Inc.
About Macy's
Macy's, the largest retail brand of Macy's, Inc., delivers fashion and affordable luxury to customers at more than 800 locations in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam. Offering distinctive assortments including exclusive fashion and home brands, Macy's stores are operated by seven regionally based retail divisions - Macy's East, Macy's Florida, Macy's Midwest, Macy's North, Macy's Northwest, Macy's South, and Macy's West - and an online store at macys.com.
For information and product images, please visit Macy's online pressroom at www.macys.com/pressroom.
