Success of Colorful School Supply Collection Inspired by Leukemia Patient Kicks off Second Year

Proceeds from “Kendall Kollection” benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., April 14 /PRNewswire/ — When Jacqueline Savage McFee, a designer of popular trendy school and office fashion products, got the devastating news that her two-year-old cousin, Kendall Sierens, was diagnosed with leukemia, it brought things into perspective for her. It also created a spark. The Kendall Kollection — a collection of colorful high-end school supplies inspired by the artist’s young cousin — was born in 2008 and has been raising funds and awareness for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). Now LLS has announced it will be partnering with McFee again this year in the hopes of raising even more money to fight blood cancer.

Working again this year with her business partner and manufacturer, Carolina Pad (CP) of Charlotte, N.C., who licenses McFee’s designs and also contributed to LLS in 2008, the new Kendall Kollection, will be featured in major retailers across the country including Wal-Mart, Office Max, Staples, and Kmart, beginning in May, 2009.

“Jackie’s dynamic designs have been drawing attention for several years now,” said Nancy L. Klein, LLS’s chief marketing and revenue officer. “LLS is so grateful to Jackie and CP for recognizing the incredible impact that using her talent to help raise awareness and funds can have in the effort to find cures and better therapies for patients with leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma.”

Based on the sales success of the 2008 Kendall Kollection launch, the products — including notebooks, journals, laptop bags, pens, pencils, folders and more — will maintain a similar look and feel as the previous designs but will also include some additional eye-catching designs for girls and women of all ages.

“I am so pleased with the success the Kendall Kollection has achieved and am even more proud we are continuing the program for another year,” says McFee. “Kendall is now five and a half and in remission, and to know I could help to make a positive difference in her life and her family by supporting LLS means the world to me. I am grateful to CP for helping support me and this dream, and helping to further the important work of the LLS. Great things can happen when companies and nonprofits come together for a matter of the heart and not always simply a matter of business.”

As a result of this successful philanthropic marketing program, Carolina Pad has created its new “Commerce with a Conscience” Program. See more by visiting www.carolinapad.com.

McFee is negotiating with other manufacturers in industries such as apparel, accessories and home wares to design new products under the Kendall Kollection brand and continue the cause to help find a cure.

For more information about the Kendall Kollection, please visit www.jackiemcfee.com or call Sarah Churchill at 415-640-2730.

About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society(R) (LLS) is the world’s largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer. The LLS mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world and provides free information and support services.

Founded in 1949 and headquartered in White Plains, NY, LLS has chapters throughout the United States and Canada. To learn more, visit www.LLS.org or contact the Information Resource Center at (800) 955-4572, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET. www.lls.org.

About Jacqueline Savage McFee

Jackie McFee’s spirit and zest for life makes her artwork as contagious as her personality! Her luscious color palettes and chic designs are favorites among millions of girls, teens and women all over the world. Her collections include Hot Chocolate, Prints Charming, In Full Bloom, Cotton Candy and a special line called the Kendall Kollection dedicated to Kendall Sierens, Jackie’s three-year-old cousin fighting leukemia.

Jackie’s collections are so popular they have been seen on TV sets and magazine spreads including Oprah, That’s So Raven, Hannah Montana, Gilmore Girls, as well as in Pottery Barn Kids/Teens catalog, Better Homes and Garden, and Child Magazine. Jackie’s collections can be found in major retailers including Target, Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Staples, Office Max as well as grocery and pharmacy chains across the US. She licenses her designs to her corporate partner Carolina Pad & Paper. www.jackiemcfee.com

About Carolina Pad

Carolina Pad(TM) is a leading supplier of fashion school and office products. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, with offices in Hong Kong and Shanghai, Carolina Pad is one of the fastest growing stationery companies in the world. Its school, office, and arts and crafts products can be found at mass merchant, office supply, grocery, and drug stores. The Carolina Pad portfolio of brands include Studio C(TM), Note2Self(TM), Ghostline(R), Notebound(R), Sasquatch(TM), and u:create(TM). Learn more about Carolina Pad at www.carolinapad.com.

    Contact: Andrea Greif
             914.821.8958
             andrea.greif@lls.org

             Sarah Churchill
             415-640-2730
             sarah@jackiemcfee.com

SOURCE The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society