Ann Taylor, LOFT, Lou & Grey Celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Launch Fundraising Campaign to Benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation

NEW YORK,  /PRNewswire/ -- Ann Taylor, LOFT and Lou & Grey, part of the ascena retail group collective of brands, announced the launch of their fundraising campaign in support of Breast Cancer Awareness month this October. This year's fundraising efforts are a continuation of the company's partnership with the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) to fund life-changing research and to eradicate breast cancer.

Since 2005, Ann Taylor, LOFT and Lou & Grey collectively, have played an important role in enabling BCRF to achieve major breakthroughs in breast cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment and survivorship. Through initiatives such as Cares Cards, limited-edition product collections and associate events, the company has donated over $38M to BCRF to date. At the close of the 2017 - 2018 fiscal year, donations funded the work of 20 full-time researchers at major BCRF partner medical and academic institutions in the U.S., who study the entire spectrum of the disease from lifestyle and prevention to treatment and metastasis, translating to 751,000 hours of research time. As BCRF enters their 2018 - 2019 fiscal year, donations through Ann Taylor and LOFT are already supporting 25 researchers, with the goal of raising $5 million for the year to fund additional researchers.

"We're proud of our longstanding partnership with BCRF and the ability to fund life-saving research to improve the lives of women who are impacted by this disease," said Gary Muto, President and Chief Executive Officer of ascena Brands. "We are grateful to our clients, associates and communities for their dedication in the fight against breast cancer, and helping to make our contribution possible."

The brands are offering the following ways for associates and clients to get involved and support BCRF:

• Cares Cards: from September 14, 2018 through October 31, 2018, Ann Taylor, Ann Taylor Factory, LOFT and LOFT Outlet will be selling Cares Cards in all U.S. and Puerto Rico stores to support BCRF. Ann Taylor and LOFT will also have the Cares Cards available online for purchase. Ninety percent of the cards' purchase price will be donated to BCRF, while also giving clients special discounts through November 15, 2018.
• Donate While Shopping: from September 14, 2018 through October 31, 2018, Ann Taylor and LOFT clients can make a personal donation to BCRF while they're shopping online and in all U.S. and Puerto Rico store locations. Ann Taylor Factory and LOFT Outlet clients can also make donations to BCRF while shopping in U.S. and Puerto Rico stores.
• LOFT Limited Edition Jewelry Collection: Starting September 14, 2018 through November 15, 2018, LOFT will sell a limited-edition earring set online and in all U.S. and Puerto Rico stores, with 60 percent of the proceeds benefiting BCRF.
• Lou & Grey Capsule Collection: from October 1, 2018 to October 31, 2018, Lou & Grey will sell an exclusive collection of shirts designed by Abbey Lossing, with 50 percent of the purchase price to be donated to BCRF. The shirts will be available for purchase online and in all stores.

"Ann Taylor, LOFT and Lou & Grey have been invaluable partners with us in the fight to end breast cancer," said Myra Biblowit, BCRF President & CEO. "Their contributions over the past 13 years have fueled some of the world's most promising research, bringing us closer to eradicating the disease that has impacted women the globe over."

To learn more about how you can support Ann Taylor, LOFT and Lou & Grey's fight against breast cancer, visit anntaylor.com, LOFT.com and louandgrey.com.

About ascena retail group, inc.
ascena retail group, inc. (NASDAQ: ASNA) is a leading national specialty retailer offering apparel, shoes, and accessories for women under the Premium Fashion segment (Ann Taylor, LOFT, and Lou & Grey), Value Fashion segment (maurices and dressbarn), Plus Fashion segment (Lane Bryant, Catherines and Cacique), and for tween girls under the Kids Fashion segment (Justice). ascena retail group, inc. operates ecommerce websites and approximately 4,700 stores throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.

For more information about ascena retail group, inc. visit: ascenaretail.com, AnnTaylor.com, factory.anntaylor.com, LOFT.com, outlet.loft.com, maurices.com, dressbarn.com,
lanebryant.com, Catherines.com, and shopjustice.com.

About the Breast Cancer Research Foundation
The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) is dedicated to being the end of breast cancer by advancing the world's most promising research. Founded by Evelyn H. Lauder in 1993, BCRF-funded investigators have been deeply involved in every major breakthrough in breast cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment and survivorship. This year, BCRF has awarded $63 million in grants to support the work of nearly 300 scientists at leading medical and academic institutions across 14 countries, making BCRF the largest private funder of breast cancer research worldwide. BCRF is also the highest rated breast cancer organization in the U.S. Visit www.bcrf.org to learn more.

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SOURCE ascena retail group, inc.