As a national women’s retailer, our Company is dedicated to women and the causes that matter most to them.
We are active in the fight against breast cancer through our support of The Breast Cancer Research Foundation®
and Susan G. Komen For The Cure®. We also demonstrate our commitment to women through various other women’s
health and empowerment organizations.
We are committed partners with The Breast Cancer Research Foundation® (BCRF) and dedicated to making a difference in the fight
against Breast Cancer. During Breast Cancer Awareness season, we offer the Ann Taylor Cares and LOFT Cares Cards in
all of our stores, enabling clients to join the fight with us. Ninety percent of the purchase price of every
card sold is donated to BCRF to fund research. Every year, the Ann Taylor and LOFT brands offer unique products
and opportunities to engage associates and enable clients to support the cause.
Through this partnership, our clients and associates have donated more than $6.5 million since 2005. The
Company’s annual contribution fully funds ten BCRF researcher grants that support groundbreaking studies
across the U.S. Our 2011-2012 BCRF grant recipients include:
• Dr. Graham Colditz, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri
• Dr. Carol Fabian, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas
• Dr. Dawn Hershman, Columbia University, New York
• Dr. Stephen Hursting, University of Texas, Austin, Texas
• Dr. Johanna Joyce, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York
• Dr. Seema Khan, Northwestern University, Illinois
• Dr. Nancy U. Lin, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Massachusetts
• Dr. Kathy Miller, Indiana University, Indiana
• Dr. Annette Stanton, University of California, Los Angeles, California
• Dr. Richard Zellars, Johns Hopkins University, Maryland
For more than 16 years, our Company has partnered locally with Susan G. Komen For The Cure® to make a difference in
the fight against breast cancer. We participate in the Race for the Cure® series in close to 60 cities
throughout the U.S. In select cities, we are a corporate sponsor of the Race. More than 140 stores took
part in the race in 2010 – a showing that included more than 1,700 associates. For 13 of the past 16 years,
our Company was the largest corporate team in the Komen Greater NYC Race for the Cure®, and most recently in 2011.
On September 29, 2004 my life changed forever when I was diagnosed with stage three
breast cancer. I was 29 years old with an 18 month old son and afraid that I would never see
him grow up. With no history of breast cancer in my family I was shocked and scared. Why
was this happening to me? What did I do to deserve this? How am I going to survive? These
were all questions I asked day in and day out. I immediately had surgery and six months of
chemotherapy followed by more surgery and six weeks of radiation. Throughout it all, I trusted
in my doctors and the research that has been done to bring me to survivor status. I am happy
to say that seven years later I am still cancer free and enjoying life with my husband and eight
year old son. I am getting to see him grow up and so blessed to be healthy and
a SURVIVOR.
When I was sick, I continued to work full time here at Ann Taylor and was so thankful to work
for a company dedicated to their employees and the fight against breast cancer. I walk for all
those that may have to go through this in their lives so we can continue to research and help
find a cure for this awful disease.
– Lisa Arnett, Manager, Multi-Channel Client Contact Center
On September 29, 2004 my life changed forever when I was diagnosed with stage three
breast cancer. I was 29 years old with an 18 month old son and afraid that I would never see
him grow up. With no history of breast cancer in my family I was shocked and scared. Why
was this happening to me? What did I do to deserve this? How am I going to survive? These
were all questions I asked day in and day out. I immediately had surgery and six months of
chemotherapy followed by more surgery and six weeks of radiation. Throughout it all, I trusted
in my doctors and the research that has been done to bring me to survivor status. I am happy
to say that seven years later I am still cancer free and enjoying life with my husband and eight
year old son. I am getting to see him grow up and so blessed to be healthy and
a SURVIVOR.
When I was sick, I continued to work full time here at Ann Taylor and was so thankful to work
for a company dedicated to their employees and the fight against breast cancer. I walk for all
those that may have to go through this in their lives so we can continue to research and help
find a cure for this awful disease.
– Lisa Arnett, Manager, Multi-Channel Client Contact Center
For 27 years, I always considered myself blessed to live a life where all my family and friends
were cancer free. If someone asked me three months ago “How have you been touched by
breast cancer? Do you have a story to tell?” My answer would have been, “no, not really.” Fast
forward to today and my answer is quite different. Breast cancer has changed my life forever.
On April 6, 2011 my worst nightmare became a reality. My mom (and absolute best friend) was
diagnosed with breast cancer. I’ll never forget the sound of the words coming out of my dad’s
mouth, “well Laur, Mom has breast cancer.” In an instant, my world as I knew it was flipped
upside down faster than I could even say the word “cancer”. Of all people, why my mom?
Why the person I depend on the most? Why the person I speak to five times a day? Why my
biggest supporter?
Once the denial and complete state of panic fizzled away, the chemo treatments began. Her
beautiful blonde hair disappeared (now replaced with an adorable wig – a bob that her real
hair could never do on its own!). Her energy-filled days of running around town dwindled
(now replaced with afternoon naps – something she NEVER did before). The five times a day
casual conversations we once had were now replaced with frantic phone calls by me asking,
“How are you feeling? Did you sleep at all last night? Have you taken your temperature today?
Did you eat breakfast? Are you drinking enough fluids? Are you achy? Can you feel your feet?
What time do you have treatment today?....” Amongst the chaos, fear and heartbreak that
breast cancer has brought us all, my mom is no different than she was on April 5, 2011. She is
still the strong woman I have always looked up to. She is still the unconditionally loving mom
of three (and grandmother of four) that I aspire to become one day. She is still all the things
that make her my mom for one reason: She will beat this disease. I know with the support of
our family and with the tremendous medical care she is receiving from her doctors, she will
soon proudly say, “I am a breast cancer SURVIVOR”. I will walk on September 18th to show
support for all the amazing women who have been touched by this horrible disease. Those
who have fought and won, and those who have fought and lost. But most importantly, I will
walk for the most important person in my life: my mom.
– Lauren Haley, Merchandise Planner, Skirts & Dresses, LOFT
Five years ago, I was diagnosed with breast cancer (Intraductal carcinoma of the breast). At
the time I was only 38 years old. I found the lump while doing a self breast exam. I alerted my
doctor immediately. I went on to have a lumpectomy followed by radiation and the beginning
of chemotherapy. My oncologist suggested I undergo new testing which would determine the
likelihood of the cancer reoccurring (Oncotype). The results were amazing. My oncologist and
I decided to forgo the dreaded chemotherapy and start a hormone therapy. Five years later, I
am cancer free.
I walk because I am a direct beneficiary of the money raised for research. One day this
disease will be eradicated. On that day, I will be proud to say that I helped find a cure. I’m
equally proud to work for a company committed to “giving back”.
– Dorothy McKie, Ann Taylor, IT Governance and Control
I have a friend of a friend who was diagnosed with breast cancer in her early 30s. She had to
undergo a double mastectomy. All she ever wanted to do was get married and be a mom. Due
to this horrible disease she never had the chance to deliver her own baby ... but she and her
husband were able to adopt an adorable little baby girl a couple of years ago.
As a mother of two beautiful grown daughters I cherish more than anything in the world, I felt
what she was going through. I couldn’t imagine not having had those first nine months with
them. It was so special, and I still remember so vividly how I felt, and what a happy time in
my life this was. I cannot imagine this being stolen from women because of cancer and the
treatment women have to undergo to overcome this illness.
Each year my girlfriend walks in a breast cancer event in Connecticut, and raises money in
support of her friend, hoping to find a cure. This year, she will also walk with me in our fight
against breast cancer. This awful disease has taken so many women’s lives, but we are
making strides because of the funds raised, and the research that is provided. We need to do
all we can to help in the fight to find a cure. ANN INC. does care so much about women... I
think this may be one of the first things I learned when I came on board with this brand.
– Susan Burt, Store Manager – LOFT 1614
We’re passionate about empowering women to achieve professional and personal success. Every woman should have the tools and the opportunity
to be successful, and we support organizations that help women achieve their dreams. We proudly launched the ANNpower Initiative with Vital
Voices Global Partnership® – a program dedicated to training and empowering girls to be the leaders of tomorrow. Please visit
annpower.org
for more information.
Additionally, we support the Dress for Success organization in its efforts to promote the economic independence of women by providing professional
attire, a support network and the career development tools these women need to thrive in work and in life. We also have supported various other
local organizations throughout the year, including Step Up Women’s Network, A Minor Miracle, the Girl Scouts and Life Haven in CT.
