Simon Property Group Introduces 'Simon Pink Ribbon Giftcard' to Support Breast Cancer Research and Education
September 14 2006 - 8:00AM
PR Newswire (US)
Each Purchase of the New Gift Card Will Support the Susan G. Komen
Breast Cancer Foundation INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 14
/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Simon Property Group (NYSE:SPG) and the
Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation are teaming up to offer
consumers a new way to support breast cancer research and education
through purchase of the new Simon Pink Ribbon Giftcard. Beginning
September 15, 2006, for every Simon Pink Ribbon Giftcard purchased,
Simon will pay $1 to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation to
support the fight against a disease that will be diagnosed in one
in eight U.S. women during their lifetime. "The Komen Foundation is
dedicated to collaborating with a variety of organizations to
provide meaningful ways for people to make a difference in the
fight against breast cancer," said Cindy Schneible, vice president
of resource development at the Komen Foundation. "We are proud to
have the opportunity to partner with Simon Property Group and
provide shoppers nationwide with critical breast health information
and the opportunity to make a valuable contribution to breast
cancer research and community outreach programs." The co-branded
Simon Pink Ribbon Giftcard is a prepaid Visa(R) product issued by
MetaBank, a federal savings bank based in Sioux Falls, SD. The card
will be sold at 159 Simon malls nationwide and online at
http://www.simon.com/. The attractive, all-pink cards are available
in denominations from $20 to $500, and can be used wherever Visa
debit cards are accepted. The first Simon co-branded gift card was
introduced in 2003 with the launch of the Simon Longhorn Giftcard
in conjunction with the University of Texas-Austin. Since that
time, additional Simon co-branded gift card programs have been
introduced which include alliances with Indiana University, Purdue
University, Indiana Pacers, San Antonio Spurs and the Dallas
Mavericks. Simon has also introduced the Simon Givingcard, from
which a portion of the handling fees are paid to leading local and
regional charities and to the Simon Youth Foundation. "The Pink
Ribbon Giftcard is the first Simon gift card product where a
charitable organization itself has become the co-branded partner,"
said Stewart A. Stockdale, Chief Marketing Officer of Simon
Property Group and president of Simon Brand Ventures, Simon
Property Group's business-to-consumer division. "We believe the
public will embrace this new card for many reasons: The
ever-expanding popularity of the Simon Giftcard product; the sales,
marketing and distribution network that Simon malls provide for
national exposure for the card, and most importantly, the work of
the Komen Foundation is widely known and admired by our most
prominent demographic, women age 18- 54," he added. "We know that
our shoppers care deeply about this cause, as do we," said Michele
Sullender, vice president of product development for Simon Brand
Ventures. "We are proud of our association with the Komen
Foundation and the chance to create this opportunity for our
shoppers to support such an extremely important cause and to become
a part of a nationwide effort to promote the early detection of
breast cancer and to eradicate this deadly disease." "We're
especially pleased to be the issuing bank for the Simon Pink Ribbon
Giftcard because it represents so much more than a payment product.
The Pink Ribbon Giftcard offers the convenience, versatility and
universality of the Simon Visa Giftcard, yet it carries so much
power in its ability to raise funds for the Komen Foundation and by
raising awareness of the organization among all who give, receive
and use the product," said Brad Hanson, president of Meta Payment
Systems, a division of MetaBank. For more information about the
Simon Visa Giftcard program, including the new Pink Ribbon
Giftcard, visit http://www.simon.com/. About Susan G. Komen
Foundation The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation was
established in 1982 by Nancy Brinker to honor the memory of her
sister, Susan G. Komen, who died from breast cancer at the age of
36. Today, the Foundation is an international organization with a
network of more than 75,000 volunteers working through local
Affiliates and events like the Komen Race for the Cure(R) to
eradicate breast cancer as a life-threatening disease. A global
leader in the fight against breast cancer, the Foundation fulfills
its mission through support of innovative breast cancer research
grants, meritorious awards and educational, scientific and
community outreach programs around the world. Through fiscal year
2005, the Komen Foundation, together with its Affiliate Network,
corporate partners and generous donors, has invested $630 million
in breast cancer research, education, screening and treatment
programs. For questions about breast health or breast cancer, visit
the Komen Foundation's Web site at http://www.komen.org/ or call
the Komen Foundation's National Toll-Free Breast Care Helpline at
1.800.I'M AWARE(R) (1.800.462.9273). About Simon Property Group
Simon Property Group, Inc., an S&P 500 company headquartered in
Indianapolis, Indiana, is a real estate investment trust engaged in
the ownership, development and management of retail real estate,
primarily regional malls, Premium Outlet(R) centers and
community/lifestyle centers. The Company's current total market
capitalization is approximately $42 billion. Through its subsidiary
partnership, it currently owns or has an interest in 284 properties
in the United States containing an aggregate of 200 million square
feet of gross leasable area in 38 states plus Puerto Rico. Simon
also owns interests in 52 European shopping centers in France,
Italy, and Poland; 5 Premium Outlet centers in Japan; and one
Premium Outlet center in Mexico. Additional Simon Property Group
information is available at http://www.simon.com/. Simon Property
Group, Inc. is publicly traded on the NYSE under the symbol SPG.
About Simon Brand Ventures Simon Brand Ventures (SBV), Simon's
business-to-consumer arm, has pioneered the transformation of
shopping malls into a medium where consumer brands can build
one-on-one relationships with shoppers who make approximately 2.4
billion visits to Simon malls each year. Simon's vast franchise of
market-leading shopping centers nationwide provides SBV the
foundation to monetize the distribution system through numerous
consumer ventures. SBV has engaged in a number of consumer business
initiatives, including the Simon Giftcard(R), launch of Simon
platform programs such as Simon Kidgits Club(R), Simon Super Chefs
Live!(R), Simon DTour Live(R), and Simon Evening of Giving(R); a
national media delivery channel including static, digital and
experiential marketing and advertising vehicles; and multiple
national and local marketing alliances with Coca-Cola, Visa U.S.A.
and Cingular Wireless, among others. About Meta Payment Systems
Meta Payment Systems, a division of MetaBank, offers card issuing
and program support to banks, processors, and third-party
distributors seeking to develop, market and manage stored-value
cards. Meta Financial Group(R), Inc. (NASDAQ NM: CASH) is the
holding company for MetaBank. For more information, call (605)
275-9555, or visit http://www.metacash.com/ . DATASOURCE: Simon
Property Group, Inc. CONTACT: Susan Luke of Fleishman-Hillard,
+1-314-982-1792, ; or Billie Scott of Simon Property Group,
+1-317-263-7148, Web site: http://www.simon.com/
http://www.komen.org/ http://www.metacash.com/
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