Charitable Events

WNBA Breast Health Auction powered by Yahoo

Surpasses Last Year's Total

NEW YORK, NY (August 3, 2001) The Sears WNBA Breast Health Auction powered by Yahoo! Auctions generated $72,687 to benefit the National Alliance of Breast Cancer Organizations (NABCO), far surpassing last year's total of $53,493. In addition, Sears will donate $50,000 to NABCO as part of the fundraiser, making the total amount raised $122,687. This is the second year the auction was part of the Sears WNBA Breast Health Awareness campaign.  From July 3 through July 27, 160 items generated a 35 percent increase in the auction amount raised over last year. In addition, bids increased by 45 percent and page views of the Auction home page increased 62 percent when compared to its inaugural total.

The auction featured a variety of unique WNBA player and celebrity items, from interactive fan experiences to autographed player memorabilia. The auction's highest bid was submitted for the 2002 Winter Olympics Package presented by Sears. The winner of the $6,000 bid will receive tickets to four Olympic events, hotel, airfare, and other accommodations in Salt Lake City, as well as a $200 Sears shopping spree with Olympic Gold Medalist and WNBA All-Star Natalie Williams (Utah Starzz).

Among the most popular items on the auction block were games of H.O.R.S.E. with WNBA Players. Rookie guard Jackie Stiles of the Portland Fire led all players with a winning bid of $2,235, exceeding last year's top H.O.R.S.E bid by over $1,000. The New York Liberty's Vickie Johnson followed with a $1,220 bid. There was a tie for third highest bid between the Washington Mystics' Chamique Holdsclaw and rookie Lauren Jackson of the Seattle Storm at $1,025. A total of 18 games of H.O.R.S.E. were offered, attracting a 41 percent increase in bids in the same category from last year.

The 2001 WNBA All-Star Game took place in Orlando during the auction and several items from the league's premiere showcase were put on the auction block. The 2001 WNBA All-Star basketball signed by all Eastern and Western Conference players sold for $1,351. In addition, autographed jerseys from all 24 All-Stars were available, with the jersey of All-Star MVP and Sears WNBA Breast Health Awareness spokesperson Lisa Leslie (Los Angeles Sparks) earning the highest bid at $2,225.

Prior to the season, a pink and white ball was created to serve as a symbol for the Sears WNBA Breast Health Awareness campaign and this was used as a foundation for many auction items. Breast Health Awareness balls designed by such celebrities as Carson Daly, Joan Jett, and Jenna Elfman tallied a total of $2,519 in auction bidding, while pink and white balls autographed by each WNBA team earned a total of $6,815.

Other highlights from this year's Sears WNBA Breast Health Auction include:

• Vickie Johnson of the New York Liberty received two separate bids of $1,220 to for a game of H.O.R.S.E and will play two games.

• The Houston Comets team autographed ball sold for $1,225, the highest bid for any team ball.

• Musician Joan Jett captured the highest bid among celebrities for her personally designed pink and white ball at $900.

• Sears has committed a minimum donation of $1 million over three years to NABCO, the leading non-profit education and information resource on breast cancer. Last year's inaugural auction generated over $50,000 and the Sears WNBA Breast Health Awareness program raised $352,551 for NABCO. This year's auction total is subject to change pending the finalization of bids.

Breast health awareness has been a core initiative of the WNBA since its inaugural season in 1997. The Sears WNBA Breast Health Awareness program is designed to increase public awareness about the importance of early detection of breast cancer and to raise funds to inform, educate and screen women all over the country.

Sears, Roebuck and Co. is a leading U.S. retailer of apparel, home and automotive products and services, with annual revenues of more than $41 billion. The company serves families throughout the country through 860 department stores, 2,100 specialized retail locations, and a variety of online offerings accessible through the company's Web site, www.sears.com.

The WNBA, the world's pre-eminent women's sports league, tipped-off its fifth season on May 28 (Memorial Day). According to a recent ESPN Sports Poll, fan interest in the WNBA now ranks fourth overall among professional sports leagues in the U.S. In addition to being the longest running women's professional basketball league in the U.S., the WNBA was also the most successful league launch in sports history. The WNBA's extensive national television schedule has expanded to reach audiences on ESPN, ESPN2, NBC and Lifetime. The WNBA's combined local, national and international television coverage in 2001 will reach nearly 60 million viewers in 167 countries and 23 different languages. During the 2000 season, a record 2.5 million fans attended WNBA games.

The National Alliance of Breast Cancer Organizations (NABCO) is the leading non-profit information and education resource on breast cancer and a recognized force in patient advocacy. NABCO provides information, assistance and referral to anyone with questions about breast cancer, and acts as a voice for the interests and concerns of breast cancer survivors and women at risk. More information on NABCO can be found on their Web site www.nabco.org. or by calling 888-80-NABCO.