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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 29, 1998 USPS Web Site: www.usps.com Stamp News Release Number 98-081 NATION’S FIRST BREAST CANCER RESEARCH ‘SEMIPOSTAL’ STAMP ISSUED AT WHITE HOUSE CEREMONY WASHINGTON – First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton and Postmaster General William Henderson today issued a new postage stamp to help raise funds for breast cancer research. The issuance ceremony was held in the East Room of the White House, officially launching the first U.S. stamp in history to have its net proceeds above the cost of postage earmarked for research organizations. "About 2 million American women suffer from breast cancer today," said the First Lady. "This deadly disease, which claims a woman’s life every 12 minutes, has touched the lives of so many American families, including the President’s own. I am proud to build on the President’s long-standing commitment to breast cancer prevention and research. This historic stamp will be invaluable in our efforts to increase research funding and save lives." "People purchase stamps every day, and now they can turn that simple act into a meaningful and effective way to participate in the fight against breast cancer," said Postmaster General William Henderson. "So often when we read or hear about breast cancer, we say, ‘What can I do?’ Now there’s an answer: Buy this stamp." The Postal Service has printed 200 million Breast Cancer Research stamps. The stamps will be available at post offices in the Washington, DC-area today and at post offices nationwide tomorrow. Joining the First Lady and the Postmaster General at the White House ceremony were some of the stamp’s leading proponents: Rep. Vic Fazio (D-CA); Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA); and Elizabeth Mullen, breast cancer survivor and founder of the Women’s Information Network Against Breast Cancer. Following today’s issuance of the Breast Cancer Research stamp, the Postal Service, breast cancer organizations and other groups will participate in awareness events at various locations and times up to and through National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October. As a "semipostal" stamp, it costs 40 cents and is valid for postage in the amount of the prevailing 32-cent First-Class letter rate. Seventy percent of net proceeds above the cost of postage will be given to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and 30 percent of net proceeds above the cost of postage will be given to the Medical Research Program of the Department of Defense (DoD). The NIH and DoD, which both conduct breast cancer research, were identified as recipients of the funds by legislation enacted in 1997. The self-adhesive Breast Cancer Research stamp is a nondenominational stamp, bearing the words "USA" and "First-Class." The background of the vertically formatted stamp design features overlapping areas of pastel blue, yellow, orange and green. Along the top are the words "BREAST CANCER." A black line drawing of a female figure, suggesting a "goddess of the hunt or fight" is the main element, while the phrases "FUND THE FIGHT. FIND A CURE." appear flowing left to right across the stamp in a clockwise, circular pattern, outlining where the figure’s right breast would be. The stamp was designed by Ethel Kessler of Bethesda, Md., and illustrated by Whitney Sherman of Baltimore. This is the first postage stamp illustration by Sherman, and is the first stamp design completed by Kessler, one of six art directors developing stamp designs for the Postal Service. Kessler has a personal interest in helping raise awareness about breast cancer since she is a survivor of the disease. Breast cancer is considered the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in every major ethnic group in the U.S. Experts say when breast cancer is diagnosed early (stages I and II), five-year survival rates are nearly 95 percent and there are better options for breast conserving surgery. For six decades, the Postal Service has issued new stamps to help raise awareness for a variety of health and social issues including drug abuse, AIDS, and environmental protection and conservation. For more information on the Breast Cancer Research stamp or other stamps and stamp-related products, visit the Postal Service’s Web site at http://www.usps.com and click "Stamps." # # #