Jennifer Aniston joins Saks in cancer cure campaign

NEW YORK — Saks Fifth Avenue and the Entertainment Industry Foundation have named actress Jennifer Aniston as the EIF ambassador for Saks Fifth Avenue’s 2013 Key to the Cure campaign.

In the 14 years since the inception of the Saks Fifth Avenue charity shopping weekend, the company, together with its vendors and partners, has raised more than $33 million for cancer research.

Designer Peter Dundas of Emilio Pucci created a limited-edition T-shirt exclusively to benefit Key to the Cure that will retail for $35 at Saks Fifth Avenue stores, Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th stores and online at saks.com. All proceeds generated from each shirt sold will be donated to EIF’s Women’s Cancer Research Fund, benefiting charitable programs dedicated to finding new detection methods, better treatments and eventual cures for women’s cancers. The T-shirt debuts at Saks Fifth Avenue Oct. 1.

“I’m so honored to join the Entertainment Industry Foundation and Saks Fifth Avenue in their continued efforts to raise funds for promising scientific research through EIF’s Women’s Cancer Research Fund,” said Aniston. “My hope is that everyone will contribute to this worthy cause by purchasing a Key to the Cure T-shirt designed by Emilio Pucci.“

“We are so pleased to be partnering with Peter Dundas and Emilio Pucci, EIF’s Women’s Cancer Research Fund and Jennifer Aniston this year for Key to the Cure,” said chairman and CEO Steve Sadove. “The continued support of our charity affiliates and the efforts made by our clients, vendors and associates has proven to be a true testament to the Key to the Cure legacy.”

“I am proud for Emilio Pucci to be part of such an important initiative with Saks Fifth Avenue. I think every living person has been touched by this disease through the illness or even loss of a friend or a family member. I have. It would seem that in 2013 this would no longer be a worry, but it very much is and so the fight continues,” added Dundas.

Aniston will appear in a national public service announcement wearing the Emilio Pucci limited-edition T-shirt. The Key to the Cure PSA will appear in major fashion and lifestyle magazines in September and October. Saks Fifth Avenue’s charity shopping weekend will take place Thursday through Sunday, October 17-20, at all Saks Fifth Avenue and Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th stores nationwide and on saks.com. During the shopping weekend, 2% of participating vendor sales up to $500,000 will be donated to our national beneficiary, the Entertainment Industry Foundation.

Specialty retailer Saks carries American and international designer collections, which include handbags, shoes, jewelry, cosmetics and gifts. It operates 41 full-line stores in 20 states, 5 international licensed stores, 66 Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th stores and its e-commerce site.