Blue For Men: The Prostate Cancer Foundation Announces New Partnerships To Kick Off National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 9 -- Men hope to finally become as educated as women -- in terms of cancer awareness, that is.  The Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) announces exciting new partnerships with Esquire Magazine and several major designer clothing corporations including HUGO BOSS and Salvatore Ferragamo for the creation of the "Blue for Men" campaign, beginning September 2004, Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. 

Beginning in September and lasting throughout the year, these fashion leaders will designate a percentage of sales from selected merchandise in their premier retail stores for prostate cancer research.

HUGO BOSS is initiating this relationship by hosting two special in-store events called "True-Blue Night" with music and private shopping featuring the BOSS Hugo Boss Fall Collections at the Columbus Circle (AOL Time Warner Building), New York City store and the Rodeo Drive store in Beverly Hills.  Their remaining stores will host cocktail parties to benefit the PCF.  During these in-store events, 15% of the proceeds from the evening will benefit the Prostate Cancer Foundation and help find a cure for the most common cancer in America. In addition, HUGO BOSS will donate 15% of select 'blue' merchandise sold in all their 17 retail stores throughout the month of September.  

Also during the month of September, Salvatore Ferragamo will donate 15% of the purchase of pre-selected Ferragamo silk blue ties to the 'Blue for Men' campaign.  This promotion will be taking place at Ferragamo boutiques in New York City (Fifth Avenue), Manhasset (Long Island), Atlanta, Chicago and Beverly Hills.

Esquire Magazine has designated the PCF as its official charity and will be running a prostate cancer advertorial in 2005 dedicated to the PCF and participating fashion partners.  The promotion will focus on encouraging other leading men's fashion companies and retailers to become involved in the "Blue for Men" campaign. 

"We feel this is an extremely important cause and that Esquire can be the leader in offering a significant forum, along with our designers and advertisers, to raise awareness among men to the danger of prostate cancer and how early screening is critical," said Stephen Jacoby of Esquire Magazine.

The Prostate Cancer Foundation hopes that this September will be a milestone in their fundraising efforts to find better treatments and a cure for prostate cancer.  Leslie D. Michelson, Vice Chairman and CEO of the Prostate Cancer Foundation stated, "These corporate alliances with Esquire and leading men's fashion companies will help us achieve greater awareness of prostate cancer, the most common non-skin cancer in America, and make further strides in finding a cure."

Look for the "Blue for Men" advertisement at all participating retail stores and help the Prostate Cancer Foundation win the fight against the disease that will strike one in every six American men.  For more information on special promotions and a store nearest you, please visit http://www.prostatecancerfoundation.org.

About Prostate Cancer Foundation
Prostate Cancer Foundation is dedicated to finding better treatments and a cure for prostate cancer.  Since inception in 1993, the Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) has become the world's largest philanthropic source of support for prostate cancer research.  The PCF has raised more than $210 million and funded more than 1,100 critical research projects in 100 research centers around the world.  For more information, visit http://www.prostatecancerfoundation.org.

Contact:  Erika Beck, Director of Communications, Prostate Cancer Foundation 310-570-4705 (or) Justin Jackson, Burns McClellan, 212-213-0006.