Vespa Pink Campaign Supports Fight Against Breast Cancer
A partnership with Lifetime Networks helps boost fund-raising horsepower for
a diverse group of non-profit agencies passionate about changing breast
cancer statistics
NEW YORK – Sept. 9, 2009 – The next time you see a distinctively pink Vespa
zooming by, it might just be one of the Vespa LX 50 scooters that more than
a dozen non-profit agencies devoted to battling breast cancer are adding to
their autumn Breast Cancer Awareness initiatives. Through a partnership with
Lifetime Networks’ 15th annual National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
campaign, “Stop Breast Cancer for Life: The Power of 15,” Vespa USA
(www.vespausa.com), is bringing a boost of extra horsepower to each of the
participating agencies’ Breast Cancer Awareness Month programs by donating a
limited-edition pink Vespa. Each agency, from internationally known
organizations like The Breast Cancer Research Foundation and the Dr. Susan
Love Research Foundation to the Breast Cancer Network of Strength, My Vision
Foundation, BreastCancer.org and the Prevent Cancer Foundation, is creating
its own unique Vespa-fueled fund-raising initiative, from online auctions to
special events and membership incentives.
“In today’s economy, people are being more and more selective about how they
donate, which means we are always considering creative ways to connect with
new audiences,” said Dr. Susan Love, President of the Dr. Susan Love
Research Foundation. “While the color pink is now universally associated
with breast cancer awareness, simply being aware is not enough. Our mission
is to move breast cancer beyond a cure and we are doing it by recruiting one
million women nationwide to sign up and be part of our Army of Women
initiative. We welcome Vespa to our arsenal and plan to use our pink Vespa
to ignite all women to reach out and recruit every woman in their life to
sign up and be part of the movement to find the cause and prevent breast
cancer once and for all.”
The Vespa Pink Campaign invites all current and future scooter fans to
actively participate in one or all the Breast Cancer Awareness Month
programs. The agencies adding a pink Vespa to their October fund-raising
initiatives are: Breast Cancer Network of Strength, The Breast Cancer
Research Foundation, BreastCancer.org, Bright Pink, Cup With Love, Dr. Susan
Love Research Foundation, The Greater New York City Affiliate of Susan G.
Komen for the Cure, My Vision Foundation, Nueva Vida, Prevent Cancer
Foundation, SHARE and the Young Survival Coalition.
Since its post-World War II debut in Italy, Vespa has been a symbol of
freedom – a perfect match for the organizations whose mission it is to help
the millions of women and men touched by the disease to prevent, manage and
survive its indiscriminate reach. Prior to the launch of October’s Vespa
Pink Campaign, Vespa USA dealers already ordered 1,000 limited-edition pink
Vespa LX 50s, some of which were purchased by local supporters of breast
cancer-related causes. Vespa aims to build on the popularity of the retail
models by offering the donated scooters as a platform for catching the eyes
– and donation dollars – of even more supporters.
“There are so many unique needs in the fight against breast cancer, and
we’re happy to play a small part in helping these agencies get the word out
about their special work,” said Paolo Timoni, President and CEO of Piaggio
Group Americas. “For instance, Nueva Vida’s efforts focus on the Latina
community, Breast Cancer Network of Strength provides information from a
survivor’s perspective and the Young Survival coalition is devoted to
education and supporting young women affected by breast cancer – these
organizations and their missions are as diverse as the people who ride
Vespas.”
Here is the current list of charity events and activities that feature a
pink Vespa LX 50:
• Breast Cancer Network of Strength http://www.networkofstrength.org will host an
event on October 6 at the Hard Rock Café in Chicago, IL;
• BreastCancer.org will host an event in Philadelphia November 14 with
Fuelthecure.net;
• The Breast Cancer Research Foundation’s http://www.bcrfcure.org auction,
including the pink Vespa LX 50, goes live on charitybuzz.com September 29
and ends October 22, 2009;
• Bright Pink http://www.BeBrightPink.org will list its pink Vespa on eBay during
the month of October with eBay’s Giving Works;
• Cup with Love http://www.cupwithlove.org will conduct a raffle from October 1 –
31, 2009
• Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation http://www.dslrf.org will launch a social
media contest titled “How Would You Recruit an Army of Women?,” October
through November, 2009;
• The Greater New York City Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure
http://www.komennyc.org will offer the Vespa as a reward incentive to fundraisers
who exceed their Komen NYC
Race for the Cure pledge goals between September 14 and October 31;
• My Vision Foundation http://www.myvision.org make a minimum $100 donation through
October for a chance to win the pink Vespa LX 50;
• Nueva Vida http://www.nueva-vida.org will conduct a raffle from September 23
through October 31;
• Prevent Cancer Foundation http://www.preventcancer.org Sign up for “Screen Your
Boobs” alerts through October and participants are automatically entered to
win the pink Vespa;
• SHARE’s http://www.sharecancersupport.org sixth annual “A Second Helping of Life”
tasting and live auction event features leading female chefs and chance to
bid on the pink Vespa LX 50. The event is scheduled for September 21, 2009
from 6 to 9:30 p.m. at Chelsea Piers in New York City. Tickets can be
purchased by calling (212) 719-0364, ext. 239;
• Young Survival Coalition http://www.youngsurvival.org Through November 16, become
a “fan” on the Young Survival Coalition’s Facebook page and you can have a
chance to win the pink Vespa LX 50;
Vespa USA will announce the final details concerning each of the charities’
pink Vespa fundraising initiatives during the middle of September.
Information about the charities and their programs can also be found on the
Vespa USA Web site (www.VespaUSA.com).
For 15 years, Lifetime’s Stop Breast Cancer for Life initiative has been
dedicated to offering women the most up-to-date, comprehensive information
about breast cancer. Lifetime has also collected more than 24 million
petition signatures on myLifetime.com, and for 13 years has fought to urge
Congress to pass the bipartisan Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act. The
bi-partisan bill would end the practice of “drive-through mastectomies,”
which refers to the practice where women are sometimes forced to leave the
hospital just hours after invasive breast surgery.
Breast cancer affects everyone. This year alone, 192,370 new cases of
invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed among women in the United States.
It is the leading cause of cancer death in women ages 15 to 54, and almost
half of all Vespa riders are women. A woman is diagnosed with breast cancer
every three minutes and the disease claims a life every 13 minutes. These
women are mothers, sisters, wives – but breast cancers also directly touches
men. Every year almost 2,000 men are diagnosed with breast cancer and 440
will die.
About The Piaggio Group:
Established in 1884 by Rinaldo Piaggio and based in Pontedera (Pisa), Italy,
the Piaggio Group is one of the world’s top manufacturers of two-wheel motor
vehicles. With more than 7,000 employees, an annual production of more than
650,000 vehicles in 2008, five R&D centers, seven production facilities in
Europe and Asia, and operations in more than 50 countries, the Piaggio Group
has a consolidated leadership in the European two-wheeler market. The
company produces scooters, motorcycles and mopeds in the 50cc to 1,200 cc
displacement range, marketed under the Piaggio, Vespa, Gilera, Derbi,
Aprilia, Scarabeo and Moto Guzzi brands. The Group also manufactures three-
and four-wheel light transportation vehicles for the Ape, Porter and Quargo
ranges. For more information about Piaggio USA, visit: http://www.piaggiousa.com.
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