BLOOMINGDALE'S CONTINUES FIGHT FOR THE CAUSE: BCRF to Receive Proceeds of Exclusive Pink Collection

NEW YORK, NY; October 2009 - Continuing in its quest to help find a cure, Bloomingdale's is once again putting together a spectacular showcase for Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October. Significant partnerships with The Estee Lauder Companies and Polo Ralph Lauren will enhance offerings to customers and benefits to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) in 2009. Exclusive merchandise, exciting special events, new vendors and special custom publications are all part of the store's comprehensive plans.

"The search for a cure is on and we want to do everything we can to eliminate breast cancer," said Michael Gould, chairman and CEO of Bloomingdale's. "That is why Bloomingdale's is helping to fund the promising research of scientists who are drawing closer to a breakthrough."

Little Pink Book
Bloomingdale's 2009 Little Pink Book features inspiring stories from well-known-and not so well-known-cancer survivors and advocates, information about BCRF and its historical fight, a conversation with beauty mavens Evelyn H. Lauder and Bobbi Brown, as well as pages and pages of products and exclusive offers that all benefit BCRF.

Once again the cover has been designed by illustrator and breast cancer survivor Marisa Acocella Marchetto. Marchetto, author of the graphic novel Cancer Vixen, is now a leading advocate for breast cancer awareness. Her Cancer Vixen Fund raised $200,000 in 2008, making 300 mammograms available for free to uninsured women.

Readers will have the opportunity to purchase special offers from the book, including a signed, numbered print by Evelyn Lauder and a VIP pass to Bloomingdale's famous Forty Carrots restaurant that allows the holder to bypass the inevitable line.

Power Purchases
Every single item featured in Little Pink Book will generate a donation to BCRF. The same items are available in a virtual "Pink" boutique on-line, available at Bloomingdales.com/LittlePinkBook. All items shown, from designers like Levi's, DKNY, Betsey Johnson, Calvin Klein, Elie Tahari and Juicy Couture, and top beauty brands Estee Lauder, Clinique, Prescriptives, Donna Karan, Bobbi Brown, Jo Malone, La Mer and Lab Series, are available in Bloomingdale's stores nationwide.

Three items in particular are exclusively at Bloomingdale's, and of special note:

- The Big Pink Umbrella ($12) has a chic, black exterior this year and Marchetto's pink take on the solar system inside. $6 from each purchase benefits BCRF.

- The Little Pink Card, with one of Marchetto's signature illustrations, is the gift card that gives twice. 10% of the card's value at the time of purchase, plus 10% of spending that exceeds the gift card's value upon redemption, goes to the BCRF. Pink Cards are available from $10 to $10,000.

- Polo Ralph Lauren Pink Pony water bottle ($20) was created exclusively for Bloomingdale's to benefit BCRF. The bottle, which features single wall stainless steel construction, a screw-top lid and a carabiner for portability, holds 24 oz. $10 from the sale of each bottle goes to BCRF to help fund clinical and translational research.

Pink Pony Shops
For the first time ever, Bloomingdale's is carrying Polo Ralph Lauren's Pink Pony collection in its stores. In addition to the exclusive Pink Pony water bottle, whose proceeds will go directly to BCRF, Bloomingdale's is opening Pink Pony shops in six of its locations. In October, shops will be open in 59th Street, New York City; Short Hills, New Jersey; Boca Raton and Aventura, Florida; and South Coast Plaza and San Francisco in California. A portion of the proceeds of every item in the shops benefits the Pink Pony Fund of the Polo Ralph Lauren Foundation. Featured items will run from women's Black Label fleeces, jackets and tops, and accessories like hats, a tote bag and a yoga mat, to men's and kids' Polo shirts, and home accessories including a candle and gym towel. Pink Pony merchandise will also be available online at Bloomingdales.com.

Forty Carrots
To further celebrate and support BCRF in Bloomingdale's stores in 2009, the retailer partnered with longtime Forty Carrots customer Evelyn Lauder to create a special pink frozen yogurt flavor-a portion of the proceeds of which will go back to BCRF. Rosewater Very Berry contains the nutrient-packed ingredients strawberry and raspberry, along a touch of Mrs. Lauder's favorite flower, the rose. All 19 Bloomingdale's locations that serve Forty Carrots frozen yogurt will have Rosewater Very Berry from September 20 through October 31. During this time, 25 cents from each sale of any flavor of Forty Carrots yogurt will benefit BCRF.

On A Mission
To date, these and other Bloomingdale's efforts have raised over $750,000 for BCRF, with a portion of those funds supporting the specific research of Dr. Titia de Lange, head of the Laboratory of Cell Biology and Genetics and the Leon Hess Professor at The Rockefeller University in New York City. Dr. de Lange's studies are focused on DNA damage response genes and their function in the early stages of breast cancer. One key breast cancer gene is Tel2, a protein that sits at the nexus of multiple cancer-relevant signaling pathways. de Lange is testing to see whether this gene can be targeted to help cancer cells react positively to chemotherapy.

"We are impressed and inspired by Dr. de Lange's research," said Anne Keating, senior vice president of public relations, special events and corporate philanthropy. "We are thrilled to have raised sufficient funds for BCRF to underwrite the grants of this gifted scientist, who has become 'the Bloomingdale's doctor.' It is wonderful for our entire corporation to see and hear of the tangible results taking place in their laboratories because of monies that we have raised."

BLOOMINGDALE'S is America's only nationwide, full-line, upscale department store; and a division of Macy's, Inc. It was founded in 1872 and currently operates 40 stores in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Illinois, Minnesota, Georgia, Florida, Nevada and California. For more information, or to shop any time, visit www.bloomingdales.com.

MARISA ACOCELLA MARCHETTO is a famed cartoonist (New Yorker, Glamour) and the author of the acclaimed graphic memoir (one of Time's top ten of 2006) Cancer Vixen; Without health insurance, and three weeks before her wedding to chef / restaurateur Silvano Marchetto, Marisa was diagnosed with breast cancer. Cancer Vixen documents her witty yet touching journey, complete with a different pair of stilettos for every chemo treatment.

The Breast Cancer Research Foundation? was founded in 1993 by Evelyn H. Lauder as an independent, not-for-profit 501(c) (3) organization dedicated to funding innovative clinical and translational research. The Foundation supports scientists at top universities and academic medical centers worldwide conducting the most advanced and promising breast cancer research that will lead to prevention and a cure in our lifetime. A minimum of 85 cents of each dollar donated to the Foundation goes directly to breast cancer research and awareness programs. In October 2008, $34.5 million was awarded to 166 scientists across the United States and in Australia, Canada, Latin America, the Middle East, and throughout Europe. And for the eighth consecutive year, BCRF received Charity Navigator's highest rating, four stars, thus outperforming over 99% of the evaluated charities, while the American Institute of Philanthropy has awarded BCRF its highest possible rating of A+. BCRF is the only breast cancer organization in the U.S. to receive these accolades. For more information, visit www.bcrfcure.org