| Pedaling Awareness: Hershey(R)'s Tour de Pink Four-Day Charity Bike Ride and Online Charity Ride Raise Funds and Breast Cancer AwarenessHERSHEY, Pa., Sep 17, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- For the fourth year, The Hershey Company will turn pink in October to
help raise awareness of breast
cancer. During Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the iconic Hershey(R)'s
Kisses(R) Brand Milk Chocolates, Hershey(R)'s
Nuggets Chocolates, Hershey(R)'s
Syrup, York(R) Peppermint Patties and
Reese's(R) Peanut
Butter Cup Miniatures will feature pink packaging to showcase the
company's commitment to educating women,
supporting research and finding a cure for breast cancer, a disease that
will affect over 182,000 women in 2008. In addition, Hershey's
is hosting a four-day
charity bike ride and virtual online charity ride inviting everyone
to get involved and support
the Young Survival Coalition (YSC), the premier international
non-profit network of breast cancer survivors and supporters dedicated
to addressing the concerns and issues unique to young women and breast
cancer.
"The Hershey Company is committed to
supporting breast cancer education and awareness. We want to offer real
ways to get involved, so this year we added a virtual component to our
annual four-day charity bike ride," said
Michele Buck, Senior Vice President, Global Chief Marketing Officer, The
Hershey Company. "Breast cancer affects women
of all ages, and we are dedicated to making a difference, contributing
more than $1 million to the Young
Survival Coalition in the past four years."
Through action, advocacy and awareness, the YSC seeks to increase the
quality and quantity of life for all young women affected by breast
cancer by educating the medical, research, breast cancer and legislative
communities and influencing them to address the incidence of the disease
in women ages 40 and under. The YSC serves as a point of contact for
young women affected by the disease.
"The Hershey Company's
commitment to the Young Survival Coalition funds vital programs and
services for young women battling breast cancer,"
said Lanita Moss, President and Co-Founder of the Young Survival
Coalition. "Through the Hershey brands and Hershey's
Tour de Pink bike ride, we are fulfilling our mission to raise
awareness and funds for young women and their families."
The Hershey Company will donate $300,000 to the YSC in 2008, raising
awareness for breast cancer and funding critical programming and
research.
Join The Cause: Hershey's
Tour de Pink and
Virtual Ride
The Hershey's Tour de Pink --
a four-day, 220-mile bike ride from Hershey, Pa., to New York
City -- will take place October 3 to October 6
during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. For the first time, this year
people across the country can get involved in their community by joining
the Hershey's Tour de Pink Virtual
Ride. Challenging riders to pedal 220 miles by October 6, the Hershey's
Tour de Pink Virtual Ride provides the resources to have people
participate in the ride and raise funds for the Young Survival
Coalition. Virtual ride participants are required to raise a minimum of
$250 in order to receive an official Hershey's
Tour de Pink jersey. Participants can choose a bike of their choice,
from a stationary bike to a bicycle built for two, or a combination of
bicycle types, to log the 220 miles required to complete the Virtual
Ride. Participate as an individual or as a team and log miles online.
For more information or to become a virtual rider and participate in
your community, visit www.hersheyspledge.com.
Pink Pride: Hershey Limited-Edition
Pink Products
Hershey limited-edition pink products will be available September
through October at mass, grocery and specialty retailers. Products
sporting pink packaging in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month
include: Hershey's Kisses Brand Milk
Chocolates, Hershey's Nuggets Chocolates,
Hershey's Syrup, York Peppermint
Patties and for the first time, Reese's Peanut
Butter Cup Miniatures. York Peppermint Patties also will turn its
white peppermint centers pink in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month
and the YSC.
About the Young Survival Coalition
The Young Survival Coalition was founded in 1998 by three women
diagnosed with breast cancer under the age of 35 who were discouraged by
the lack of information available to young women diagnosed with the
disease. With revenues of $2.4 million, over 23,000 constituents, nine
staff people and six affiliates, the YSC works to change the face of
breast cancer by advocating for more research on young women and breast
cancer and providing this underserved population with programs and
services specific to them. The YSC also provides a peer-support network
of survivors as well as vital resources to decrease the sense of
isolation felt by young women affected by breast cancer.
About The Hershey Company
The Hershey Company (NYSE:HSY) is the largest North American
manufacturer of quality chocolate and sugar confectionery products. With
revenues of nearly $5 billion and approximately 13,000 employees
worldwide, The Hershey Company markets such iconic brands as Hershey's,
Reese's, Hershey's
Kisses, Kit Kat, Twizzlers and Ice Breakers. Hershey is the
leader in the fast-growing dark and premium chocolate segment, with such
brands as Hershey's Bliss, Hershey's
Special Dark, Hershey's Extra Dark
and Cacao Reserve by Hershey's. Hershey's
Ice Breakers franchise delivers refreshment across a variety of
mint and gum flavors and formats. Hershey's
partnership with Starbucks offers a premium chocolate experience that
combines the highest-quality chocolate with Starbucks coffee-house
flavors, for a range of delicious and distinct chocolate products. In
addition, Artisan Confections Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of The
Hershey Company, markets such premium chocolate offerings as Scharffen
Berger, known for its high-cacao dark chocolate products, Joseph
Schmidt, recognized for its fine, handcrafted chocolate gifts, and Dagoba,
known for its high-quality natural and organic chocolate bars. Visit us
at www.hersheynewsroom.com.
SOURCE: The Hershey Company
The Hershey Company
Jody Cook, 717-534-4288
or
JSH&A Public Relations
Kristin Zanini, 630-932-9316
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