Sharpie® Goes Pink This October, Inviting Celebrities and Fans to "Ink It Pink" for City of Hope

OAK BROOK, Ill., Sept. 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- This October, pink is the new black in the world of celebrity autographs as Sharpie® kicks off its annual "Ink It Pink" campaign to help fight breast cancer.  The preferred autograph marker of celebrities everywhere, Sharpie is challenging celebrities and fans to ink it pink for the cause.  For every pink autograph signed and submitted to www.sharpie.com during the month of October, Sharpie will donate $1* to City of Hope, one of the nation's leading cancer research, treatment and education centers.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110926/CG74838)

"Pink is a powerful symbol in the fight against breast cancer," said Sally Grimes, global vice president of marketing for Sharpie. "And now, a pink autograph has the power to not only raise awareness, but raise funds for City of Hope and its pioneering new prevention and treatment methods.  This is such a simple way to support this incredible organization and we hope everyone will get on board and ink it pink for City of Hope."

Grace Potter Puts Pink to Paper

Acclaimed rock artist Grace Potter has already signed on to the Ink It Pink effort.  Potter helped kick-off the campaign Saturday, September 24, during her band's concert in New York City's Central Park where she inked pink autographs for fans and encouraged them to do the same.

Last year, in its inaugural Ink It Pink effort, hundreds of A-listers, from Hollywood movie legends and hall-of-fame athletes to revered rocks stars and respected media icons, lent their signatures to the effort.

"Today, more than two-million women nationally suffer from breast cancer," said Steve Martin, vice president of marketing for City of Hope. "City of Hope is at the forefront of research to ensure patients, both at City of Hope and nationwide, benefit from new and improved treatments. The support of brands like Sharpie, and the broader support of Sharpie's parent company, Newell Rubbermaid, enables us to push science forward and help patients who are fighting cancer."

As part of its commitment to women facing cancer, City of Hope maintains a unique, multidisciplinary Women's Cancers Program to advance understanding of breast and gynecological cancers, improve screening and develop new treatments, in addition to improving quality of life for survivors.

How to Ink It Pink

To submit your pink autograph to the Ink It Pink gallery, visit www.sharpie.com, where you can also view celebrity signatures.  The campaign will be the spotlight feature on BroadCause the week of September 26, 2011. BroadCause is a notable philanthropic website where people, corporations and causes unite and engage in one centralized place to support a variety of important causes.

Sharpie Pink Ribbon Pen Joins the Fight  

Sharpie has been a City of Hope partner since 2006 through the sale of its Pink Ribbon marker and highlighter.  This year, the brand is adding the Sharpie Pink Ribbon pen for everyday writing to the lineup.  Ten-cents from the sale of every marker, highlighter or pen benefits City of Hope.  Since 2006, Sharpie, along with parent company Newell Rubbermaid, has donated more than $2 million to City of Hope's lifesaving research and treatment programs.

A two-pack of the Sharpie Pink Ribbon marker, the Sharpie Pink Ribbon highlighter and the Sharpie Pink Ribbon pen has a suggested retail price of $2.62, $2.35 and $6.47, respectively.  All products are available wherever office products are sold. For more information on Sharpie products, visit www.sharpie.com.  

ABOUT SHARPIE®

For 47 years, Sharpie has been the popular brand of permanent marker associated with the autograph experience. Newell Rubbermaid Office Products, maker of Sharpie® markers, is a worldwide leader in the manufacturing and marketing of writing instruments, art products, office organization and technology products, including such well-known brands as Paper Mate®, Sharpie®, DYMO®, Parker®, Waterman®, EXPO®, Prismacolor®, uni-ball® and Rolodex®, among others. Visit www.sharpie.com for more information.

ABOUT CITY OF HOPE

City of Hope is a leading research, treatment and education center for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases. Designated as a Comprehensive Cancer Center, the highest honor bestowed by the National Cancer Institute, and a founding member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, City of Hope's research and treatment protocols advance care throughout the nation. City of Hope is located in Duarte, Calif., just northeast of Los Angeles, and is ranked as one of "America's Best Hospitals" in cancer by U.S.News & World Report. Founded in 1913, City of Hope is a pioneer in the fields of bone marrow transplantation and genetics. For more information, visit www.cityofhope.org.

*Terms and Conditions

The Sharpie Ink it Pink Campaign is open to the general public. For each photograph of a signature made with a Sharpie Pink marker that is uploaded to the www.sharpie.com website (the "Site") between September 26, 2011 and October 31, 2011 (or such earlier date if maximum donation is reached), Sharpie will donate $1 to City of Hope in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month (up to a maximum donation of $10,000).   Limit one upload per person or email address.  The signature must be your own, or it must be from a person who consented to the use of his/her signature for this promotion and for display on the www.sharpie.com site.   Sharpie may post all, some or none of the signatures uploaded, in its sole discretion.  Sponsored by Newell Rubbermaid Office Products, 2707 Butterfield Rd., Oak Brook, IL  60523 with permission of City of Hope, 1055 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90017

SOURCE Sharpie