9/23/2014
The Fashion Footwear Association of New York (FFANY) and leading multimedia retailer QVC recently presented $240,000 for breast cancer research to the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI), partner with UPMC CancerCenter.
The contribution came from the proceeds of the 20th annual QVC Presents “FFANY Shoes on Sale” event, held last fall to benefit several cancer research centers across the country, including UPCI for the second year in a row. UPCI also has been selected to receive funds from this year’s event; the FFANY gala will be held on October 8 in New York and the charitable shoe sale is scheduled to air on QVC® October 16 at 6 PM (ET).
The grant will fund research being led by principal investigators Adrian V. Lee, Ph.D., Nancy E. Davidson, M.D., and co-investigators Steffi Oesterreich, Ph.D., and Adam Brufsky, M.D. The study examines why breast cancer recurs and metastasizes, a topic that has previously received little research attention. Since more than 90 percent of breast cancer deaths are related to metastatic disease, this research has the potential to have a major impact upon breast cancer survival.
“We are honored to receive the support of the Fashion Footwear Association of New York and QVC. They have recognized the impact of the work we’re doing here at UPCI,” said Dr. Davidson, who also is director of UPCI and the UPMC CancerCenter. “With these funds, we can continue working toward finding altered genes that could be modulated to treat and ultimately prevent the recurrence of breast cancer.”
Since its inception, QVC Presents “FFANY Shoes on Sale” has sold over 1.7 million pairs of shoes and generated more than $44 million to benefit leading breast cancer research and education institutions. Designated as the event’s “Special Pink Benefactors” in 2013, The Nine West Group, Brown Shoe Company and Camuto Group each donated shoes worth more than $500,000. Their contributions included brands such as Nine West, Anne Klein and Easy Spirit, as well as Via Spiga, Franco Sarto, Naturalizer, Vince Camuto, Jessica Simpson and VC Signature.