(Thanks To Steve Stratz for Sending us this article) Soap Opera Legend Promotes New Web-based "Hunger-Free Holiday" Fundraising Campaign Benefiting America's Second Harvest SEATTLE (Nov. 17, 1999) -Diva of daytime television and legendary actress Susan Lucci has accepted a new role this holiday season: leader in the fight against hunger. Today, Internet powerhouse FreeShop.com, national retailer Macy's and America's Second Harvest, the nation's largest domestic relief organization, announce that the Emmy award-winning soap opera superstar will be the official ambassador of Hunger-Free HolidayTM, a new Web-based program designed to help fight hunger in America. Lucci, who plays Erica Kane Marick on ABC's All My Children, will promote the innovative "e-giving" Hunger-Free Holiday program (www.hungerfreeholiday.com) via a series of high-profile interviews with national and local media. Lucci will also make a special appearance in the 73rd Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day ParadeTM as the Hunger-Free Holiday ambassador. Lucci will be making her Broadway debut starring as Annie Oakley in the Tony Award winning musical Annie Get Your Gun at the Marquis Theatre from Dec. 23 through Jan. 16. "Susan Lucci adds a strong, recognizable voice to this breakthrough click-and- give program," said Tim Choate, president and CEO of FreeShop.com. "Her commitment to this important cause will go a long way in helping millions of American threatened by hunger." Visitors to the Hunger-Free Holiday Web site can make online contributions directly benefiting America's Second Harvest between now and Dec. 31 via secure credit card transactions. For every dollar donated, America's Second Harvest distributes 34 pounds of food and grocery products to food banks across the nation. From there the food goes to those who really need it-35 million people each year, including 8 million children and 4 million seniors. "We are grateful to Ms. Lucci for lending her time and voice to help raise awareness for the millions of Americans who risk hunger daily," said Deborah Leff, president and CEO, America's Second Harvest. "We are certain her efforts will help feed thousands of needy children and families during the holiday season." Hunger-Free Holiday is featured on Macy's new Thanksgiving Day Parade Web site (www.macyparade.com), which is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of visitors during the parade broadcast on NBC. FreeShop.com, the creator and organizer behind Hunger-Free Holiday, also features Hunger-Free Holiday prominently on its homepage (www.freeshop.com). FreeShop.com draws nearly three and a half million visitors every month and is one of the top-10 most visited Internet shopping sites according to Media Metrix. About FreeShop.com, Inc.: FreeShop.com is a leading online direct marketing network that connects marketers and consumers in a fun, interactive environment. Consumers seeking to explore, learn about or try new products can choose from a variety of free, trial and promotional offers from hundreds of well-known companies. The FreeShop Network includes FreeShop.com (www.freeshop.com), featuring free and trial offers; CatalogSite (www.catalogsite.com), offering hundreds of free catalogs; and Worldwide Brochures (www.wwb.com), offering over 15,000 free travel brochures. FreeShop.com is headquartered in Seattle, Washington, and publicly traded on Nasdaq: FSHP. For more information, please visit www.freeshop.com. About America's Second Harvest America's Second Harvest (www.secondharvest.org) is the nation's largest domestic hunger-relief organization with a network of 189 regional food banks serving all 50 states and Puerto Rico. The organization distributes more than one billion pounds of donated food and grocery product annually, and supports approximately 50,000 local charitable agencies that operate more than 94,000 food programs, including food pantries, soup kitchens, women's shelters, Kids Cafes, and other local organizations that provide food assistance to more than 26 million hungry Americans, including eight million children and four million seniors each year. About Macy's East Macy's East, a division of Federated Department Stores, Inc. has 87 full service department stores and Furniture Galleries on the east coast. Headquartered in New York City, the "World's largest store" is known world-wide as a leader in fashion for the family and the home as well as its annual holiday spectacle, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. |