June 21, 2005





New York, NY - Saks Fifth Avenue and the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF) announced today that two-time Academy Award® winning actress Hilary Swank has been named EIF ambassador for Saks Fifth Avenue's 2005 KEY TO THE CURE initiative. KEY TO THE CURE is a women's cancer initiative founded in partnership with the Entertainment Industry Foundation and its Women's Cancer Research Fund. The program will also receive ongoing support from Mercedes-Benz USA.

"I'm thrilled to be able to join the Entertainment Industry Foundation and Saks Fifth Avenue to bring attention the importance of early detection of breast and other women's cancers," says Ms. Swank. "I hope everyone will buy a Key To The Cure t-shirt to help this very promising scientific research being funded through EIF's Women's Cancer Research Fund."

Money raised through Saks Fifth Avenue's KEY TO THE CURE will benefit more than 50 charitable programs dedicated to finding new treatments and a cure for women's cancers through EIF's Women's Cancer Research Fund.

"Everyone here at Saks Fifth avenue is thrilled to be contributing to this incredible cause in this, our seventh year of continued support in finding a cure for all women's cancers," said Fred Wilson, Chairman & CEO, Saks Fifth Avenue Enterprises. "We are enormously grateful to Ms. Swank as EIF's ambassador to this year's KEY TO THE CURE campaign. With her help, along with designer Diane von Furstenberg, and our partners Mercedes Benz-USA, and the Entertainment Industry Foundation's Women's Cancer Research Fund, this year's shopping event will fund innovative cancer research that will revolutionize diagnostic and testing procedures, and change the future of all women's cancers."

Saks Fifth Avenue's shopping weekend will take place October 28^th - 29^th at all of its stores nationwide during which a percentage of sales will benefit EIF's Women's Cancer Research Fund. In support of this program, Ms. Swank will appear in a national public service announcement (PSA) wearing a limited edition t-shirt designed by Diane von Furstenberg utilizing Swarovski crystals, exclusively to benefit Saks Fifth Avenue's KEY TO THE CURE. The PSA will be in major fashion and lifestyle magazines in October.

Partnering with Saks Fifth Avenue and the Entertainment Industry Foundation's Women's Cancer Research Fund in KEY TO THE CURE is MBUSA, which donated $1 million last year through a special vehicle offering at select Mercedes-Benz dealerships across the country. The company will do the same this year with a signature edition of its all-new R-Class luxury sports tourer, which will go on sale this fall

"The new R-Class luxury sports tourer represents the pinnacle of progressive design, combining the performance of a four-wheel-drive sport utility vehicle, the power of a fine sports sedan and the comfort and versatility of a luxury wagon," said Michelle Cervantez, vice president of marketing, Mercedes-Benz USA. "Mercedes-Benz hopes the monies raised through this campaign will help fund advancements in the fight against women's cancers, which impacts our customers, our employees, our communities, friends and families."

Saks Fifth Avenue initiated its shopping weekend in 1999. Since then, the company has donated over $16 million to women cancer research and treatment organizations throughout the United States. Organizations benefiting from these funds include: EIF's Women's Cancer Research Fund; New York's Mt. Sinai; Los Angeles' Cedars-Sinai; Houston's M.D. Anderson; Boston's Gillette Center; the Susan G. Komen Foundation; and many others.

"We are pleased to continue this amazing partnership with Saks Fifth Avenue and Mercedes," said Lisa Paulsen, President & CEO, Entertainment Industry Foundation. "Thanks to their generosity and support, EIF's Women's Cancer Research Fund has brought together a team of world-class scientists who are working together to develop a simple blood test to detect breast and other women's cancers early."

The Women's Cancer Research Fund, a program of the Entertainment Industry Foundation, was established by Honorary Chairs Rita Wilson and Kate Capshaw, along with Founders Kelly Chapman Meyer, Anne Douglas, Quinn Ezralow, Marion Laurie and Jamie Tisch. The Women's Cancer Research Fund supports innovative research, education, and outreach directed at the development of more effective approaches to the early diagnosis, treatment and prevention of all women's cancer.

A philanthropic leader of the entertainment industry, the Entertainment Industry Foundation has distributed hundreds of millions of dollars - and provided countless volunteer hours - to support charitable initiatives addressing some of the most critical issues facing society today. For more information, visit www.eifoundation.org.

Saks Fifth Avenue Enterprises, a member of the Saks Incorporated group of stores, comprises 59 stores throughout the United States, 52 Off 5^th outlet stores, and saks.com, the company's e-commerce site.



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Contact:

Lesley Langsam
212.451.3799
lesley_langsam@s5a.com

Judi Ketcik
818-505-2649
jketcik@eifoundation.org