Olympus Raises Colorectal/Colon Cancer Awareness Through eBay Giving Works Auction 'Cameras for a Cause'
Olympus will donate proceeds from its consumer products sold through the eBay Giving Works auction to benefit colorectal/colon cancer research and advocacy. Olympus, a global leader in endoscopy solutions and a precision technology leader in award-winning consumer products, will donate 10 percent of the proceeds to C3: Colorectal Cancer Coalition and the Entertainment Industry Foundation's National Colorectal Cancer Research Alliance (EIF's NCCRA). By demonstrating its commitment to the fight against colorectal cancer, also known as colon cancer, Olympus hopes to raise funds to benefit these leading nonprofit organizations over the next 12 months. To visit this site, log on to http://stores.ebay.com/Olympus-Auctions.
Center Valley, PA (PRWEB) April 8, 2008 -- Olympus announces it will donate a percentage of proceeds to benefit colorectal/ colon cancer research and advocacy. Olympus, a global leader in endoscopy solutions and a precision technology leader in award-winning consumer products, will donate 10 percent of the proceeds from its consumer products sold through the eBay Giving Works auction to C3: Colorectal Cancer Coalition and the Entertainment Industry Foundation's National Colorectal Cancer Research Alliance (EIF's NCCRA). By demonstrating its commitment to the fight against colorectal cancer, also known as colon cancer, Olympus hopes to raise funds to benefit these leading nonprofit organizations over the next 12 months. To visit this site, log on to http://stores.ebay.com/Olympus-Auctions.
Through this unique endeavor, Olympus is utilizing its expertise in both endoscopy and consumer electronic products to support colon cancer research and awareness efforts. The proceeds from sales of Olympus products via the eBay Giving Works auction will be divided between C3: Colorectal Cancer Coalition and the EIF's NCCRA, with the goal to directly support the eradication of this disease.
As the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States for both men and women, colorectal cancer is not only one of the most preventable cancers, but also one of the most curable when detected at an early stage. According to the American Cancer Society, nearly 150,000 Americans are diagnosed with colorectal cancer annually and an estimated 50,000 die.
The donated profits received by C3 will be used to further its legislative and advocacy mission, whereas the profits received by EIF's NCCRA will be used for to advance promising cancer research.
"C3: Colorectal Cancer Coalition is grateful to Olympus for supporting our efforts to fight colorectal cancer through research, empowerment and access," said Carlea Bauman, president of C3. "We hope to one day make colorectal cancer no more deadly than the common cold -- and we will only accomplish that through an increased commitment to ending this terrible disease. We applaud Olympus' efforts to raise awareness, and raise the bar."
"On behalf of the Entertainment Industry Foundation's National Colorectal Cancer Research Alliance and co-founder Katie Couric, we are so grateful for Olympus' steadfast commitment to our colon cancer initiative," said Lisa Paulsen, President and CEO of the Entertainment Industry Foundation. "Olympus' ongoing support helps us with our efforts to generate greater awareness of this cancer, as well as accelerate important science that will hopefully lead us to better tests, treatments and, ultimately, a cure."
In addition to the proceeds raised, all Olympus cameras bought on eBay will be shipped with information about colorectal cancer screening. "At Olympus, we believe it is our responsibility to help educate, inform and create awareness about colorectal cancer," said F. Mark Gumz, president and COO of Olympus America. "Our hope is that through our many Olympus initiatives, we will increase awareness and facilitate discussions about the disease."
Building on Olympus' five-year history of selling products via eBay, the company believes it can create a positive philanthropic impact through the online program. Of note are the more than 3,000 unique visitors per day to the Olympus store on eBay.
The eBay Giving Works program (http://givingworks.ebay.com) is a dedicated charitable listing initiative, providing organizations with a creative way to support causes important to them. Since 2000, more than $94.5 million has been raised for charity from listings sold on eBay worldwide. eBay Giving Works combines the market of active buyers and sellers on eBay with the nonprofit certification and donations processing power of MissionFish. Its many features and functions are designed to make fundraising and cause marketing on eBay both simple and successful.
About Olympus:
Olympus is a precision technology leader, creating innovative opto-digital solutions in healthcare, life science and consumer electronics products. Olympus works collaboratively with its customers and its affiliates worldwide to leverage R&D investment in precision technology and manufacturing processes across diverse business lines.
These include:
- Gastrointestinal endoscopes, accessories, and minimally invasive surgical products;
- Advanced clinical and research microscopes;
- Lab automation systems, chemistry-immuno and blood bank analyzers and reagents;
- Digital cameras and voice recorders.
Olympus serves healthcare and commercial laboratory markets with integrated product solutions and financial, educational and consulting services that help customers to efficiently, reliably and more easily achieve exceptional results. Olympus develops breakthrough technologies with revolutionary product design and functionality for the consumer and professional photography markets, and also is the leader in gastrointestinal endoscopy and clinical and educational microscopes. For more information, visit www.olympusamerica.com.
About C3: Colorectal Cancer Coalition:
C3 pushes for research to improve screening, diagnosis, and treatment of colorectal cancer; for policy decisions that make the most effective colorectal cancer prevention and treatment available to all; and for increased awareness that colorectal cancer is preventable, treatable, and beatable. Visit www.FightColorectalCancer.org for more information.
About the Entertainment Industry Foundation:
The Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF), as a leading charitable organization of the entertainment industry, has distributed hundreds of millions of dollars to support charitable initiatives addressing critical health, education and social issues.
About National Colorectal Cancer Research Alliance:
EIF's NCCRA is dedicated to the eradication of colon cancer by promoting education about the importance of medical screening and funding cutting-edge research to develop better tests, treatments and, ultimately, a cure. The NCCRA was co-founded by journalist Katie Couric, cancer activist Lilly Tartikoff, and the Entertainment Industry Foundation in 2000. As a result of the attention focused on colorectal cancer since the NCCRA was established, the number of colonoscopy screenings has increased almost 20 percent, a phenomenon dubbed the "Couric Effect" by the University of Michigan researchers who documented it.
About eBay Inc.:
Founded in 1995, eBay Inc. connects hundreds of millions of people around the world every day, empowering them to explore new opportunities and innovate together. eBay Inc. does this by providing the Internet platforms of choice for global commerce, payments and communications. Since its inception, eBay Inc. has expanded to include some of the strongest brands in the world, including eBay, PayPal, Skype, Shopping.com and others. eBay Inc. is headquartered in San Jose, California.
About MissionFish:
MissionFish provides service and support activities including nonprofit verification, donation collection and disbursement, tax receipting, and online contribution tracking. By combining the power and reach of the eBay marketplace with the nonprofit expertise of MissionFish, eBay Giving Works makes it easy for buyers, sellers, nonprofits, and cause-marketers to come together, Building a Marketplace for Change.
Editor's note: No part of the purchase price can be considered deductible by the purchaser as a charitable contribution.
For more information regarding Olympus' colorectal and colon cancer research and awareness efforts, please visit www.crcawareness.com.
Media Contacts:
Megan Longenderfer, Olympus, (484) 896-5579, megan.longenderfer @ olympus.com
Anne Isenhower, GolinHarris, (212) 373-6028, aisenhower @ golinharris.com
Carlea Bauman, C3: Colorectal Cancer Coalition, (703) 548-1225 x11, carlea.bauman @ FightColorectalCancer.org
Kathleen Lobb, Entertainment Industry Foundation, (212) 522-3231, klobb @ EIFoundation.org
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