PURCHASE, N.Y. — October 17, 2012 – On-field prior to Game One of the 2012 World Series, MasterCard Worldwide will present a $4 million contribution to Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) signifying the culmination of the Dine and Be Generous campaign. Through the program, which launched at the MLB All-Star Game in July, MasterCard made a penny contribution to SU2C when cardholders spent $10 or more for a meal on their MasterCard cards, up to $4 million (U.S.).
To acknowledge the millions of consumers who helped contribute to the donation MasterCard debuted a “Thank You” spot during the broadcast of the 2012 National League Division Series on FOX that features Red Sox pitcher and cancer survivor Jon Lester along with 9-year-old cancer patient Justin, who was recently featured in SU2C’s live telecast in September. Lester, who beat non-Hodgkin lymphoma, donated his time to film the spot. Major League Baseball has been a proud supporter of Stand Up To Cancers since it was founded in 2008.
Justin is currently battling neuroblastoma and chose to wear the number five on his jersey signifying the number of times he’s beaten cancer. He was introduced to Stand Up To Cancer by the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, a charity that is collaborating with SU2C to create a pediatric cancer Dream Team.
The spot, titled “Bat on the Ball,” uses the simplicity of a pitcher and a batter to symbolize the shared focus, determination and community support that are crucial elements in the fight against cancer. The characters in the spot are meant to illustrate that all involved in the movement to hasten an end to cancer—patients, their families, the support of major donors such as MasterCard and Major League Baseball, and importantly, those who choose to give in their everyday lives through opportunities like MasterCard’s Dine And Be Generous program—are heroes.
To view “thank you” spot go to: http://youtu.be/dLiQ6OmGcKI.
“We continue to look for ways to engage our cardholders through their everyday actions and prove that when you’re fighting for a good cause every penny counts,” said MasterCard Group Executive of U.S. Market Development Craig Vosburg. “Dine and Be Generous is a great example of how we’re working to build programs that help our cardholders, issuers and merchant partners come together to stand up for a cause that is personal for so many of us. We are thankful to everyone who participated in this program and we look forward to extending our efforts into the upcoming holiday season.”
“With one in two men and one in three women diagnosed in their lifetimes, this disease affects each and every one of us whether directly or indirectly,” said Stand Up To Cancer co-founder Sue Schwartz. “We couldn’t carry out our mission to put an end to this horrible disease without the support we receive from consumers and collaborators like MasterCard. It’s a cause that unites us all.”
“Many of those within our baseball family, like Red Sox pitcher Jon Lester and our great fans across the country have been affected by cancer,” said Baseball Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig. “Along with our partners at MasterCard, Major League Baseball is committed to supporting Stand Up To Cancer and their tireless work towards eradicating this disease.”
Over the past three years, MasterCard has contributed over $9 million to support SU2C’s efforts to raise funds for research and to help make everyone diagnosed with cancer a survivor. To further these efforts, MasterCard will unveil an e-commerce extension of the program during the holiday shopping season. More details will be announced later this fall.
For more information about how you can get involved, visit www.standup2cancer.org/mastercard.
“Bat on the Ball” was produced by Stand Up To Cancer Producer Bedonna Smith, directed by Nanette Burstein for Hungry Man, edited by David Trachtenberg for Jump, and features original music by Beta Petrol.
About MasterCard Worldwide
MasterCard (NYSE: MA), http://www.mastercard.com, 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. Follow us on Twitter @MasterCardNews, join the discussion on the Cashless Conversations Blog and subscribe for the latest news.
About Stand Up To Cancer
Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C)—a program of the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF), a 501(c)(3) charitable organization—raises funds to accelerate the pace of groundbreaking translational research that can get new therapies to patients quickly and save lives. SU2C facilitates collaboration among the best and the brightest in the cancer research community. The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) and a Scientific Advisory Committee conduct rigorous, competitive review processes through which SU2C’s grantees are selected. By galvanizing the entertainment industry, SU2C generates awareness and builds grassroots support for this new approach to ending cancer.
About St. Baldrick’s Foundation
The St. Baldrick’s Foundation is a volunteer-driven charity committed to funding the most promising research to find cures for childhood cancers and give survivors long and healthy lives. Since 2005, St. Baldrick’s has awarded more than $101 million to support lifesaving research, making the Foundation the largest private funder of childhood cancer research grants. St. Baldrick’s funds are granted to some of the most brilliant childhood cancer research experts in the world and to younger professionals who will be the experts of tomorrow. Funds awarded also enable hundreds of local institutions to participate in national pediatric cancer clinical trials, which may be a child’s best hope for a cure. For more information about the St. Baldrick’s Foundation please call 1.888.899.BALD or visit http://www.StBaldricks.org.
# # #Media Contacts:
Sarah Ely, MasterCard, (914) 249-6714, sarah_ely@mastercard.com
Angee Jenkins, Robertson Schwartz Agency/Stand Up To Cancer, (310) 395-6622, angee@robertsonschwartz.com
Maurine Slutzky, Stand Up To Cancer, (213) 240-3923, mslutzky@eifoundation.org