Moffitt Cancer Center to Receive Proceeds From Actress Rita Wilson's "true Hearts" Jewelry Launch on Hsn
Tampa, FL (Dec 10, 2002) -
Employees and patients of the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute will have a
special reason to tune into the
TV Shopping Network HSN Friday, Dec. 13, at 9-11 p.m. ET and Saturday, Dec. 14, at 5-7 p.m. ET.
Wilson and Waterman chose Moffitt (along with UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center in Los
Angeles, Ca., and the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas) with the goal of helping to
find a cure for breast, lung and colon cancer - the top three cancers in both diagnosis rate and
morbidity rate for women.
"We feel so fortunate to have been selected by Rita Wilson and Cathy Waterman to be the
beneficiaries of this campaign," says Dr. Jack Pledger, Moffitt's deputy director and
associate center director of Basic Research. "As our institution is at the forefront of some
of the nation's most innovative and creative cancer research, funds such as the ones raised
through HSN are valuable resources that enable us to continue to set new standards in cancer
research and treatment."
The versatile "True Hearts" collection will feature charm bracelets, reversible
gemstone necklaces, rings, earrings and pendants - all with hearts, crosses, talismans or
Waterman's trademark flower designs - in 14k gold or sterling silver. Among the personal jewelry
collections of Hollywood's biggest stars, Waterman's designs were previously limited to specialty
retail outlets.
All True Hearts net profits will be donated to charity, with a share of the proceeds coming to
Moffitt. Therefore, the jewelry represents more than just art or style. According to Wilson, the
opportunity to focus on jewelry as a way to raise money for a worthy cause is a "dream come
true."
Jewelry prices range from $29 for charm bracelets to more than $300 for a replica of one of
Wilson's favorite Cathy Waterman pieces, a wrap-around lariat necklace given to her by husband Tom
Hanks.
"I've been wanting to do something for charities which was more than a one-time
effort," Wilson says. "The success of Paul Newman's and Rosie O'Donnell's philanthropic
efforts inspired me to develop my own line of jewelry with Cathy. It's a great feeling to know
that HSN's viewers will get a wonderful piece of jewelry to wear, as well as the satisfaction of
knowing that they are helping others in the process."
Being selected by Wilson and Waterman allows Moffitt to showcase its lung cancer initiatives,
which include both treatment and research breakthroughs. For instance, this year: The Thoracic
Oncology Program's Gerold Bepler, M.D., Ph.D., and George Simon, M.D., identified the first
clinically useful independent prognostic marker for early stage resected patients with non-small
cell lung cancer. News outlets around the country interviewed patient Gloria Caruso of Tampa, a
nonsmoker diagnosed with lung cancer in 1998, who credits a Moffitt clinical trial with saving her
life. Caruso received the experimental drug Iressa after radiation and chemotherapy failed to stop
tumors from developing. Under a five-year, $1.6 million grant from the National Cancer Institute,
Moffitt's Thomas Brandon, Ph.D., is working to find ways to help pregnant women who've given up
smoking avoid relapsing after they give birth. Brandon is director of the Tobacco Research and
Intervention Program at Moffitt.
According to HSN, this week's jewelry debut benefiting cancer research earmarks the first
initiative in Wilson's and Waterman's overall vision to raise funds for various women and
children's charities throughout the U.S. Accordingly, HSN will regularly feature the "True
Hearts" collection along with guest appearances by Rita Wilson, each time raising funds for
a different charity benefiting women or children.
At Moffitt's Lifetime Cancer Screening Center on Friday night - in anticipation of a greater
volume of calls during the HSN show - Moffitt is staffing up with 10 extra R.N.'s to take calls on
Moffitt's toll-free Cancer Answers line: 1 888-MOFFITT.
Viewers interested in seeing the launch this Friday should refer to their local TV guides for
channel listings.
About HSN
HSN, a division of USA Interactive (NASDAQ:USA1), celebrates its 25th anniversary this year as
the company that originated the television shopping concept in 1977. The idea materialized on a
small AM radio station in Florida and has since grown into a global multichannel retailer with a
thriving TV, catalog and Web business on hsn.com. Now residing on a 1.4 million square foot
facility on 53 acres in St. Petersburg, Florida, HSN generated worldwide consolidated sales of
$1.93 billion in 2001 and reaches more households worldwide than any other television shopping
network.
To learn more about "True Hearts," go to www.hsn.com For more information, contact:
Mediarelations@moffitt.usf.edu (813)
632-1478
In 2001, the National Cancer Institute awarded Moffitt
the status of a Comprehensive Cancer Center in recognition of its excellence
in research and contributions to clinical trials, prevention and cancer control.
Additionally, Moffitt is a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network,
a prestigious alliance of the country's leading cancer centers, and is listed
in the U.S. News & World Report as one of the top cancer hospitals in America. Moffitt’s
sole mission is to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer.
For more information, contact: Media Relations (813)
632-1478
Last updated on 2/23/2004