'Shoes on Sale®' event to benefit U-M's Breast Oncology Program

Proceeds from 18th annual event to support six institutions for breast cancer research and education nationwide

-added 10/11/2011

Ann Arbor - That pair of suede pumps you've been eyeing or those cute wedge sandals you just have to have could end up benefiting cancer research at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Learn more:
Breast Cancer Awareness page

QVC

"Shoes on Sale®" Event page

Offering more than 90,000 pairs of shoes at half the suggested retail price, QVC and the Fashion Footwear Association of New York are teaming up for the 18th annual QVC Presents "FFANY Shoes on Sale®" event, scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 15. The event is held each October in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, with net proceeds from the sales benefitting cancer research programs across the country, including U-M's Breast Oncology Program.

The U-M Breast Oncology Program received $400,000 from last year's sale, and $3.7 million total since its involvement with the event began.

"The support has allowed us to continue moving forward on things such as breast cancer stem cell research as well as other endeavors we may not have been able to pursue," says Daniel Hayes, M.D., co-director of the Breast Oncology Program at U-M Comprehensive Cancer Center.

This year, Timothy O'Donovan, the former CEO of the Michigan-based shoe company Wolverine World Wide Inc., will be honored at the Shoes on Sale gala event in New York City for his contributions to the program. O'Donovan is donating an additional $100,000 this year, on top of proceeds from the sale, to support breast cancer research at U-M Comprehensive Cancer Center.

"I thought this would be a great time to recognize FFANY and the partnership it's had with U-M over the years," says O'Donovan. "I had the pleasure of handing the check from FFANY to Dr. Hayes a few years back, and he explained to me just how he would be able to use that money. A gift like that really goes a long way."

Overall, QVCand FFANY have raised more than $35 million for breast cancer research and education, selling more than 1.5 million pairs of shoes.

Other cancer research and education centers that will benefit from this year's sale are:

The Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania
The Breast Cancer Research Foundation
The Susan F. Smith Center for Women's Cancers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
The Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
The Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine
The John Wayne Cancer Institute Breast Center at Saint John's Health Center

Event Information

Date: Saturday, Oct. 15
Time: 6-9 p.m.
Channel: QVC

About the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center

The University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center provides its patients comprehensive diagnostic, treatment and support services in an environment that reflects our mission: the conquest of cancer through innovation and collaboration. The Breast Oncology Program consists of laboratory and clinical investigators who work together to translate exciting ideas and observations from the laboratory to the clinic to further advance evaluation and treatment of patients at risk for or diagnosed with breast cancer.

About the Fashion Footwear Charitable Foundation:

The Fashion Footwear Charitable Foundation was created to support ongoing research and education programs in the fight against breast cancer and is supported by members of the Fashion Footwear Association of New York (FFANY). Donated footwear is sold on live television through QVC during the Fashion Footwear Charitable Foundation's annual charity benefit, QVC Presents "FFANY Shoes on Sale®." Net proceeds are distributed to leading breast cancer research and education institutions across the United States, including beneficiaries for the 2011 event:

The Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania
The Breast Cancer Research Foundation
The Susan F. Smith Center for Women's Cancers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
The University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center's Breast Oncology Program
The Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
The Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital
Washington University School of Medicine
The John Wayne Cancer Institute Breast Center at Saint John's Health Center.

The Fashion Footwear Charitable Foundation makes its home at 274 Madison Avenue, Suite 1701, New York, NY 10016, www.FFANY.org.

About QVC:

QVC, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation attributed to the Liberty Interactive Group (Nasdaq: LINTA), is one of the largest multimedia retailers in the world. QVC is committed to providing its customers with thousands of the most innovative and contemporary beauty, fashion, jewelry and home products. Its programming is distributed to approximately 195 million homes worldwide. The company's website, QVC.com, is ranked among the top general merchant Internet sites. With operations in the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan and Italy, West Chester, Pa.-based QVC has shipped more than a billion packages in its 24-year history. QVC, Q, and the Q Ribbon Logo are registered service marks of ER Marks, Inc.