
New Color Me OKI philanthropic program raises money for breast cancer research, awareness and prevention and supports parent company Oki Electric Industries global philanthropic mission.
Mount Laurel, N.J. (July 31, 2007) - Earlier this year, the employees of Oki Data Americas were able to choose the charitable cause they most wanted to support for the company's new philanthropic program. With an overwhelming response to support breast cancer, the employees, in partnership with Stewart and Bonnie Krentzman decided to provide the "Twin Sister" of the most famous car in the world to breast cancer events to help raise money for the fight against a disease that affects so many.
The employees of Oki Data Americas, a leading business printing solutions specialist, launched the Color Me OKI philanthropic program in April 2007 with three goals: raise funds to find a breast cancer cure, deliver inspiration and hope to the many women fighting the disease, and motivate others to join the breast cancer fight.
The program supports the corporate philanthropic mission of Oki Electric Industry Company, Ltd., the Tokyo, Japan-based parent company of Oki Data Corporation, which is to undertake social contribution activities that help realize the genuine enrichment of society, and contribute to the quality of life for people around the world.
The vehicle to deliver on the employees' goals was a 52 year-old Cadillac Fleetwood that was personally restored by the company's CEO, Stewart Krentzman, and his wife Bonnie to become the "Twin Sister" of the original Pink Cadillac Elvis Presley gave to his mother in 1955. Elvis bought the original Pink Cadillac for his mother after signing his first recording contract and it quickly became a symbol of his love for her. Coincidentally, the color pink has become universally associated with breast cancer awareness.
Color Me OKI symbolizes a 'partnership in passion' between Oki Data Americas employees, the "Twin Sister" Pink Cadillac and what it represents to women fighting the breast cancer disease.
"At the events in which the "Twin Sister" appears, we are told its restoration provides people with a symbol of strength, hope and inspiration that breast cancer survivors can successfully restore and rebuild their lives," said Krentzman. "It is our goal that the "Twin Sister" will not only help to raise money for a cure, but also bring an element of optimism and nostalgia in celebration of the women who are so admirably fighting this disease."
The Color Me OKI program will take the "Twin Sister" Pink Cadillac around to twenty breast cancer events this year. Event attendees have the opportunity to have a commemorative photo taken with the car and an Elvis Tribute Artist in exchange for donations that go directly to the sponsoring breast cancer organization.
| Event | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Susan G. Komen 3-Day | Saturday, August 4th 2007 | Boston MA |
| American Cancer Society Making Strides against Breast Cancer | Thursday, August 16th 2007 | Terrace on the Park, Queens, NY |
| Ellens Run | Sunday, August 19th 2007 | Easthampton, NY |
| Susan G. Komen 3-Day | Sunday, September 9th 2007 | New York City, NY |
| Central Jersey Dragon Boat Club for Breast Cancer | Saturday, September 22nd 2007 | Mercer County Park, NJ |
| Lean On Me Breast Cancer 5K Walk & Talk | Saturday, September 29th 2007 | Beth Page State Park, NY |
| Breast Cancer Benefit Lunch | Tuesday, October 2nd 2007 | Memphis, TN |
| Octoberwoman Pink Ribbon Ball | Friday, October 5th 2007 | Westmont Country Club, NJ |
| Susan G. Komen 3-Day | Sunday, October 7th 2007 | Philadelphia, PA |
| Ride to Live Brooklyn Breast Cancer Run | Saturday, October 13th 2007 | Keystone Park in Coney Island, NY |
| America Cancer Society Race for Breast Cancer | Sunday, October 21st 2007 | Point Pleasant Beach, NJ |
Oki Data Americas, Inc., headquartered in Mount Laurel, N.J., and a subsidiary of Oki Data Corporation of Japan, markets PC peripheral equipment under the OKI Printing Solutions brand, including digital color and monochrome printers, color and monochrome multifunction products, serial impact dot matrix printers, and facsimiles. As business printing solutions specialists, Oki Data Americas has shipped more than 15 million printers, providing world-class printing technology and real-world solutions designed to help manage workflow and optimize business performance. Oki Data Americas is ISO 9001:2000 certified and also offers a full line of options, accessories and consumables. Most OKI Printing Solutions' products have earned the ENERGY STARŪ. Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd., parent company to Oki Data Corporation, is a $5.8 billion multinational corporation with headquarters in Tokyo and is a world leader in information processing systems, telecommunications and electronics.