MBUSA Joins Forces with Saks Fifth Avenue

Press Release

MONTVALE, NJ � Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) is joining forces with Saks Fifth Avenue to raise awareness and funds for the Council of Fashion Designers Association's (CFDA) Fashion Targets Breast Cancer (FTBC) charitable initiative, Sept. 18-21. This year, Mercedes-Benz USA is underwriting the FTBC events held at all 61 Saks Fifth Avenue stores in the U.S., including, New York City; Atlanta; Boston; Houston; Bal Harbor, Maine; Chicago; Beverly Hills; Dallas; Short Hills, N.J.; and San Francisco during the four-day shopping weekend. MBUSA's sponsorship also includes a unique offering of 61 special-edition versions of the all-new 2003 Mercedes-Benz CLK500 Coupes that are being built for Saks Fifth Avenue for the FTBC program. The CLK500 Coupes will be integrated into the four-day shopping event. MBUSA will make a donation to FTBC for every special-edition CLK500 Coupe sold. Proceeds from the four-day charity shopping event held at Saks Fifth Avenue stores across the country will help fund various local and national breast cancer organizations. To date, FTBC has raised six million dollars to benefit these organizations. "Women buyers are obviously an important constituency for us and we want to address not only what interests them, like fashion, but also the issues that are important to them, like breast cancer which affects one in eight women in their lifetime in the world. We think this partnership with Saks and the CFDA makes a meaningful contribution to informing about and addressing this issue," says Dave Schembri, vice president of marketing for Mercedes-Benz USA. The 61 special-edition coupes feature an exclusive color-combination with an exterior known as "Saks Fifth Avenue" blue and stone leather interior. Some exciting features of the car include a more powerful V8 engine, 17-inch AMG alloy wheels, an AMG styling package and a wood/leather steering wheel. In addition, each Saks car comes complete with a special amenities package, including customized items such as a limited-edition cashmere blanket, key ring, leather note pad and wallet, all designed by Baldessarini by Hugo Boss. Each coupe also comes with a specially designed floormat that is adorned with both the Mercedes-Benz and Saks Fifth Avenue logos. The special-edition Mercedes-Benz CLK500 will be sold through participating Mercedes-Benz dealerships. The all-new 2003 CLK Coupe goes on sale late summer 2002 in the U.S. market. MBUSA's sponsorship of the FTBC initiative will include a prominent display of the CLK500 Coupe in key locations at Saks Fifth Avenue stores during the four-day shopping event. The spokesperson for this year's FTBC is Iman, supermodel, philanthropist, businesswoman, wife and mother. Iman recently launched her second beauty company called I-IMAN. In addition to supporting breast cancer research, Iman is actively involved in several other charitable initiatives, including Mother's Voices, Action Against Hunger, The Children's Defense Fund, and The For All Children Foundation. Iman will appear in the FTBC public service announcement and will host the opening night kick-off of Fashion Targets Breast Cancer on Sept. 18 at the Saks Fifth Avenue flagship store in New York City.