New Orleans, LA - Founded on principles of giving back to the community, The Oreck Corporation recently joined with Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation to help raise funds and awareness for the fight against breast cancer.

"When you try the new Pink Oreck XL® Ultra Hypo-Allergenic Plus Vacuum Cleaner in your home for 30 days, Oreck will donate $50 to Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation," Oreck President and CEO Tom Oreck said. "Our minimum donation will be $250,000 with no maximum limit," he said. "It is our hope that the public will join with us to help this important cause."

"A key to our success at the Susan G. Komen Foundation is collaboration with a variety of organizations to provide creative ways for people to make a difference in the fight against breast cancer," said Cindy Schneible, Komen's vice president of cause-related marketing and sponsorship.

"We are proud to have the opportunity to partner with Oreck to increase breast cancer awareness and allow Oreck users nationwide to make a valuable contribution to breast cancer research and community outreach programs," Schneible said.

The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation supports breast cancer research, education, screening and treatment projects worldwide. Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer among women in the US. Yearly, more than 200,000 people are diagnosed and 40,000 die from the disease, according to the Komen Foundation. For more information go to www.komen.org and www.oreck.com.

Named Heroes of Katrina in 2005 by CNN, the Oreck family has a tradition of giving back to the community and taking good care of their employees.

When Hurricane Katrina left thousands of their employees displaced from their corporate headquarters in New Orleans and their factory in Long Beach, Miss., Oreck reached out via the media to find their employees, relocated them in temporary housing, provided counseling, food, clothing, daily living supplies, even massage therapy. With the employees they brought back and, undaunted in the face of disaster, the three generations of Oreck family management reopened their factory just nine days after the hurricane.

"Oreck is a company that cares about people," said Oreck. "We simply did the right thing and our employees saved our business. To help additionally, we donated 1,000 Oreck Bagged Vacuum Cleaners to the Salvation Army for distribution to those affected by Katrina on the Gulf Coast," Oreck said. "On the Gulf Coast or across the country our goal is to help people have a cleaner, healthier home and thus a better quality of life," he said.

"Since the majority of people who use our vacuum cleaners are women, it seemed like the right thing to do to help support Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation," company founder David Oreck said.

According to David Oreck, he originally developed the Oreck Vacuum with women in mind. "We stay true to that principle today," he said. "Most women can push the Oreck Upright Vacuum with one finger," he said. Oreck designed the machine to be a powerful cleaner but weigh just eight pounds. "I wanted to make it as user friendly as possible without sacrificing efficient and effective cleaning power," Oreck said.

"The new Pink Oreck XL Vacuum we created to benefit the fight against breast cancer reduces user stress with an ergonomically-designed handle," Oreck said. "It helps eliminate stress and strain on hands, wrists and elbows," he said. The Oreck handle received the Arthritis Foundation® Ease-Of-Use Commendation.

The Clean For The Cure® Pink Oreck Vacuum features an eight-year warranty and eight annual, free tune-ups. It can be purchased at any of 450 Oreck Clean Home™ Centers across the country, at www.cleanforthecure.com or by calling 1-800- 237-4181. As a cleaning bonus, the Oreck Clean For The Cure®, portable, shoulder-strap canister vacuum, complete with attachments, is also included. Lightweight and easy to use, it is black with the pink ribbon symbol.

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