The Estée Lauder Companies’ Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign

A Brief History

In 1989, Evelyn H. Lauder joined the Board of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City and led a fundraising drive to establish the first-ever comprehensive breast and diagnostic center. The Evelyn H. Lauder Breast Center at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center filled a void within the health care community and finally allowed women to take care of all of their breast health needs under one roof.  As women from all over the world began coming to the Center to seek help, Mrs. Lauder realized that more had to be done to raise awareness about breast cancer and to raise funds to find a cure.

In 1992, Mrs. Lauder initiated The Estée Lauder Companies’ Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign with a mission to reach as many women as possible with the message that early detection saves lives. That same year, Mrs. Lauder and Alexandra Penney, then editor of Self magazine, created the Pink Ribbon as a symbol of breast health and the Company began publicizing the symbol by distributing pink ribbons at its cosmetic counters around the world. Since then, the Pink Ribbon has become a ubiquitous symbol of hope and to date The Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign is present in more than 70 countries and has distributed more than 80 million pink ribbons and informational brochures worldwide.


The Breast Cancer Research Foundation® was founded in 1993 by Evelyn H. Lauder as an independent, not-for-profit 501(c) (3) organization dedicated to funding innovative clinical and translational research. The Foundation supports scientists at top universities and academic medical centers worldwide conducting the most advanced and promising breast cancer research that will lead to prevention and a cure in our lifetime. A minimum of 85 cents of each dollar donated to the Foundation goes directly to breast cancer research and awareness programs. In October 2008, $34.5 million was awarded to 166 scientists across the United States and in Australia, Canada, Latin America, the Middle East, and throughout Europe. And for the seventh consecutive year, BCRF received Charity Navigator’s highest rating, four stars, thus outperforming over 99% of the evaluated charities, while the American Institute of Philanthropy has awarded BCRF its highest possible rating of A+. BCRF is the only breast cancer organization in the U.S. to receive these accolades.

Having concluded its 16th year in October 2008, The Estée Lauder Companies’ Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign continues its global fight to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research, and it will continue on until breast cancer becomes a thing of the past. Towards that end, the Campaign has encouraged governments to dedicate a day, week or the month of October to Breast Cancer Awareness, enlisted support from celebrities and prominent First Ladies, and facilitated global press coverage on the importance of early detection and treatment that has reached billions of people.


Evelyn Lauder with Macy’s Beauty Advisors

The BCA Global Landmarks Illumination Initiative

In 2000, The Estée Lauder Companies’ Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign began its Global Landmark Illumination Initiative whereby world-famous landmarks around the world are illuminated in glowing pink lights during Breast Cancer Awareness Month to focus attention and spread awareness about breast cancer and the message that early detection saves lives. To date, the Company has illuminated hundreds of famous buildings, monuments and landmarks around the world. In 2008 alone, over 200 landmarks were illuminated. Highlights of 2008 participating landmarks include:

  • The Concert Hall – Amsterdam
  • Congreso de la Nación – Argentina
  • Kings Park in Perth – Australia
  • Vienna Airport Tower – Austria
  • Niagara Falls – Canada
  • Beijing’s Legation Quarter – China
  • Brandenburger Tor – Germany
  • Museum of Cycladic Art – Greece
  • Taj Mahal Palace and Tower Hotel – India
  • Bridge of Strings– Israel
  • Palazzo Marino – Italy
  • Tokyo Tower – Japan
  • Cheonggyecheon – Korea
  • Bloomingdale’s 59th Street store – New York, USA
  • Museum of Fine Arts – Boston, USA
  • Los Angeles International Airport – Los Angeles, USA
  • Tower of London – UK
  • The Arts House at Old Parliament – Singapore
  • Fuente de Cibeles – Spain
  • Grossmünster Landmark – Switzerland
  • Taipei Tower – Taiwan
  • TV Channel 3 Building – Thailand

The Estée Lauder Companies continues to be the largest corporate sponsor of The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. In 2008, 15 of The Estée Lauder Companies’ brands sold pink ribbon beauty products during October, with a portion of the proceeds from sales going to BCRF (see Brand Participation for a full list of products from 2008). In addition to donations from Pink Ribbon Products, The Estée Lauder Companies donates proceeds from a range of employee-driven fundraising events to BCRF. To date, The Estée Lauder Companies and its retail partners have raised more than $35 million for BCRF.







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