October 19, 2011 – During Game 4 of the 2011 MLB World Series, MasterCard Worldwide will make an on-field donation presentation to Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) to signify the culmination of the Eat, Drink and Be Generous campaign. Launched during the MLB All-Star Game in July, MasterCard made a donation to SU2C every time cardholders used their MasterCard when dining out. Qualifying purchases included everything from a single cup of coffee or quick meal, to take out and fine dining.

To acknowledge the millions of consumers who helped contribute to this over $4 million donation, MasterCard will also debut its “thank you” spot tonight during the broadcast of the 2011 Major League Baseball (MLB) World Series. Major League Baseball legends John Kruk, Andy Pettitte, Ron Darling, Mitch Williams, Tony Gwynn and Reggie Sanders, along with current players Jimmy Rollins and Brian Wilson, are featured in the spot, which also includes footage of MasterCard cardholders showing their support for the cause. Baseball’s Kruk, is a cancer survivor; Pettitte, who stands for his mother-in-law; Darling, who stands for his former teammate, Gary Carter; Williams, who stands for his parents; and Sanders, who stands for two close friends. Major League Baseball was a founding partner of Stand Up To Cancer.

“Our cardholders proved that every penny counts in the fight against cancer through the Eat, Drink and Be Generous campaign whose results exceeded our expectations,” said MasterCard Group Executive for U.S. Market Development, Craig Vosburg. “Our cardholders and restaurant partners truly came together to stand up for such a wonderful cause, and it shows in the funds we were able to raise for Stand Up To Cancer. The spot airing during tonight’s game is just our small way of saying thank you to everyone who used their MasterCard while dining out.”

Once the $4 million milestone was reached in September, the fundraising efforts didn’t stop there. MasterCard partnered with Rewards Network, who powers the leading dining rewards programs in North America, including iDine®, to keep the momentum going. Rewards Network is donating 50 cents to SU2C when diners use a registered MasterCard for qualifying transactions over $15 made at participating iDine restaurants through the end of October.

“With one in two men and one in three women diagnosed in their lifetimes, this disease affects each and every one of us. We are so grateful for the incredible support of MasterCard and its cardholders,” said Stand Up To Cancer co-founder Sue Schwartz. “Together, they’ve raised a significant amount of money that will support our efforts to find new and effective therapies for this terrible disease.”

A Celebration of Priceless Everyday Moments

To further support SU2C, MasterCard encouraged consumers to share their “priceless everyday moments” on its Facebook page via the MasterCard Everyday Moments Facebook App. For every eligible moment uploaded or “liked”, MasterCard committed a donation of $1 up to $125,000. Consumers who posted their priceless moments were also entered into a drawing to have the “priceless” experience of attending Game 4 of the 2011 World Series; three participants were chosen to attend with a guest.

“When you are living with cancer every day is a gift, and every dollar that we raise means something to someone with this disease,” added Vosburg. “Our cardholders and Facebook community came together to share their everyday priceless moments to help bring about a truly priceless moment – finding the cure for cancer.”

For more information about how you can get involved, visit www.standup2cancer.org.

About MasterCard

MasterCard (NYSE: MA) is a global payments and technology company. It operates the world’s fastest payments processing network, connecting consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories. MasterCard’s products and solutions make everyday commerce activities – such as shopping, traveling, running a business and managing finances – easier, more secure and more efficient for everyone. Learn more at www.mastercard.com, follow us on Twitter @mastercardnews or join the conversation on The Heart of Commerce Blog.

About Stand Up To Cancer

Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) is a program of the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF), a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, and was established by a group of media, entertainment and philanthropic leaders whose lives have been affected by cancer in significant ways. Members of the Executive Leadership Council include Katie Couric; the Entertainment Industry Foundation, represented by Board of Directors Chairperson Sherry Lansing (Founder of the Sherry Lansing
Foundation), CEO Lisa Paulsen and Senior Vice President Kathleen Lobb; Rusty Robertson and Sue Schwartz of the Robertson Schwartz Agency; Pam Williams, partner at Laura Ziskin Productions; and nonprofit executive Ellen Ziffren. The late Laura Ziskin, a legendary film producer who passed away from breast cancer in June after living courageously with the disease for seven years, was also a member of this group. This initiative with MasterCard was the last spot she produced for SU2C.

SU2C’s Dream Team approach to funding translational cancer research is designed to bring together the best and brightest scientists from different disciplines at research centers across the country and internationally who will work collaboratively to quickly address today’s critical problems in patient care. Monies also support innovative cancer research projects that are often deemed “too risky” by conventional funding sources. Currently, 355 scientists from 55 institutions are involved in SU2C-funded research projects-either as members of scientific “Dream Teams” or as recipients of Innovative Research Grants. As SU2C’s scientific collaborator, the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), led by a prestigious SU2C Scientific Advisory Committee, provides scientific oversight, expert review of the research projects, and grants administration. For more information go to www.standup2cancer.org.

Media Contacts

MasterCard Worldwide
Sarah Ely
sarah_ely@mastercard.com
(914) 249-6714

Stand Up To Cancer
Maurine Slutzky
mslutzky@eifoundation.org
213-240-3923