ANN INC. Rallies in Support of the Fight Against Breast Cancer with Launch of Annual Giving Campaign

NEW YORK, Oct. 1, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- ANN INC. (NYSE: ANN), the parent Company of Ann Taylor and LOFT, today reaffirms its dedicated support of The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) through its annual Breast Cancer Awareness campaign and new in-store and online promotions. Since 2005, the Company has donated $14 million to BCRF. Last year alone the company donated a record breaking $4 million which will fully fund sixteen pioneering BCRF research grants this year in the United States and Canada.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131001/NY85830-a )
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131001/NY85830-b )

"Breast cancer touches the lives of so many, and as a Company that inspires and connects with women to put their best selves forward – including the tens of thousands of women we work with around the world – we are proud to  support vital breast cancer research through our dedicated efforts with The Breast Cancer Research Foundation," said Kay Krill, President and CEO of ANN INC. "Our breast cancer awareness campaign will allow us to collectively make a profound impact and positive difference for all women and families impacted by this disease." 

In recognition of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, ANN INC. is proud to support BCRF with the sale of Ann Taylor Cares and LOFT Cares Cards. Through this unique program, the Company has fully funded sixteen leading-edge research projects for the 2013-2014 grant period. Led by distinguished investigators from prominent institutions across the country, the project topics span from the use of novel drugs targeting white blood cells to develop new breast cancer therapies to the identification of ways to thwart the growth of breast tumors – and many others. ANN INC. has funded BCRF research projects for 8 years and is proud to expand its support to sixteen grantees this year.

"ANN INC.'s unparalleled support of The Breast Cancer Research Foundation has helped us to become the leading charity supporting breast cancer research today," said Myra Biblowit, President of BCRF. "ANN INC. is our top corporate donor this year.  Their partnership, passion and critical financial contributions are helping to enable life-saving research. We are honored to have the force of ANN INC. on our side another year as we work to achieve prevention and a cure for breast cancer in our lifetime."

The Ann Taylor and LOFT brands are also offering unique opportunities to further engage their clients in support of the fight against breast cancer by purchasing limited-edition products. Ann Taylor designed the Brilliant Bow Collection, an exclusive jewelry collection that provides clients a glamorous way to give and this year LOFT's "Live In Pink" campaign features a signature jewelry collection inspired by cancer survivor and E! News anchor, Giuliana Rancic, with statement pieces designed by one of her favorite jewelry designers Suzanna Dai.

To learn more, visit ANNCares.com.

About ANN INC.
ANN INC. is the parent Company of Ann Taylor and LOFT, two of the leading women's specialty retail fashion brands in North America.  As of August 3, 2013, the Company operated 1,007 Ann Taylor, Ann Taylor Factory, LOFT and LOFT Outlet stores in 47 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Canada.  Our Ann Taylor and LOFT brands are also available online in more than 100 countries worldwide at AnnTaylor.com and LOFT.com.  Visit ANNINC.com for more information (NYSE: ANN).

About The Breast Cancer Research Foundation^®
Founded by Evelyn H. Lauder in 1993, The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) has raised more than $450 million in the last 20 years to advance the world's most promising breast cancer research to achieve prevention and a cure in our lifetime. In 2013, BCRF will commit $45 million to support the work of more than 200 researchers at major medical institutions across six continents. By spending 91 cents of every dollar on research and awareness programs, BCRF remains one of the nation's most fiscally responsible charities. It has earned four stars from Charity Navigator since 2002 and is the only breast cancer organization awarded an "A+" from CharityWatch. For more information, visit www.bcrfcure.org.

ANN INC. 2013-2014 BCRF Research Grants
The Breast Cancer Research Foundation Scientific Advisors recently completed the selection of grantees for the coming year and sixteen research grants were selected as the ANN INC. 2013-2014 BCRF grant recipients are, Dr. Monica Bertagnollifrom the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute at Harvard Medical School, Dr. Graham A. Colditz, from the Washington University School of Medicine, Dr. Nancy Davidson from the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Dr. Laura Esserman from the University of California at San Francisco, Dr. Carol J. Fabian from the University of Kansas Medical Center,  Dr. Dawn Hershman from Columbia University Medical Center, Dr. Stephen D. Hursting from the University of Texas, Dr. Melinda Irwin from the Yale School of Public Health, Dr. Johanna A. Joyce from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Dr. Seema Khan from  Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Dr. Nancy U. Lin and Dr. Eric Winer from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Dr. Kathy D. Miller from the Indiana University School of Medicine, Dr. Lois Shepherd from Queens University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada, Dr. Annette L. Stanton from the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Dr. Sandra Swain from MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Georgetown University, and Dr. Kala Visvanathan  from Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health.  

The Ann Taylor Cares Card and LOFT Cares Card
Those who purchase a $25 Ann Taylor Cares Card or LOFT Cares Card will receive 20% off every purchase of $100 or more at Ann Taylor, LOFT, Ann Taylor Factory Store, LOFT Outlet from September 27 through November 15. Ninety percent of the card's purchase price will be donated to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

The Brilliant Bow Collection
In honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Ann Taylor designed the Brilliant Bow Collection. From September 27 through December 31, 2013, Ann Taylor will donate 70% of the purchase price of the pieces from the collection to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. The collection is available at Ann Taylor stores and online at anntaylor.com.  Items range from $49.50 to $79.50.

Live in Pink by LOFT in partnership with Giuliana Rancic
LOFT has named Giuliana Rancic the first global ambassador of the "LIVE IN PINK" movement. Giuliana, anchor of E! News, co-star of E!'s popular Fashion Police team, star of the hit Style Network reality show "Giuliana and Bill," and breast cancer survivor, will serve as the inspiration for an exclusive jewelry collection for LOFT by Suzanna Dai, one of her favorite jewelry designers, with 60% of the purchase price going to support The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) in the month of October.The "Live In Pink" collection is all about statement pieces, giving a nod towards gold and sparkly embellishments. The collection features a total of three pieces of jewelry: two necklaces and a set of earrings. The collection will be sold in 500+ LOFT stores and online at LOFT.com from September 27 through October 31, 2013. Items range from $39.50 to $69.50.

SOURCE ANN INC.