In May 2003, it was announced that Nicole Kidman would be the first model for Key To The Cure, a new women's cancer initiative founded in partnership with the Entertainment Industry Foundation and its Women's Cancer Research Fund. Money raised through Saks Fifth Avenue's KEY TO THE CURE will benefit more than 60 charitable programs dedicated to finding new treatments and a cure.

Money raised through Saks Fifth Avenue's KEY TO THE CURE will benefit more than 60 charitable programs dedicated to finding new treatments and a cure for women's cancers nationwide, including EIF's Womens Cancer Research Foundation Fund and The Women's Health Fund at UCLA. UCLA is home to one of only 13 academic medical centers in the United States designated as a National Center of Excellence in Women's Health, and one of only two in the West. This distinction recognizes UCLA as a model in the field, uniting research, clinical care, medical training and public health education. "Nicole Kidman's support of the women's health programs at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, ranked sixth among medical schools nationwide in women's health, is an extraordinary philanthropic act," said Dr. Jonathan Berek, director of The Women's Health Program, as well as the principal investigator for numerous gynaecologic research programs. "These dollars will support clinical and research excellence and will lead to research findings being translated to patient care in a relatively short time."

Christina Johnson, President & CEO, Saks Fifth Avenue Enterprises said, "All of us at Saks Fifth Avenue are very excited about KEY TO THE CURE and to embark on this new relationship with the Entertainment Industry Foundation. We are enormously appreciative that Nicole Kidman is helping us kick off this year's campaign. This new charitable venture gives Saks an incredible opportunity to raise even more money to help improve women's lives. Since the majority of our customers and associates are women, we think that there's no better way to give back to the community we serve by raising not only awareness but also significant funds to help combat breast and other reproductive cancers."

Saks Fifth Avenue's initiative was launched with a shopping weekend September 17-20 [2003] at all of its stores nationwide during which a percentage of sales were made to local and national breast and women's reproductive cancer research centers. In support of this program, Nicole appeared in a national public service announcement (PSA) wearing the initiative's Danskin t-shirt designed by Stella McCartney, exclusively to benefit Saks Fifth Avenue's KEY TO THE CURE. The PSA also appeared in major fashion and lifestyle magazines in that September. As a national sponsor of Saks Fifth Avenue's KEY TO THE CURE, Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) made a substantial donation for this initiative through sales of a limited number of special edition 2004 CLK500 Cabriolets. Designed exclusively in support of Saks Fifth Avenue's KEY TO THE CURE, the all-new special edition of the latest convertible from Mercedes-Benz become available for sale in September. [Source]

Nicole Says: "Sadly, cancer touches most of us in some way. I'm honored to be invited by the Entertainment Industry Foundation and Saks Fifth Avenue to help bring more attention to this cause, and I'm also grateful for their crucial and generous support of The Women's Health Fund at UCLA. Together, I know we are going to raise a lot of money to find a cure for women's cancers."

Gallery: Nicole's Magic Gallery


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