BMW “Ultimate Drive” Finale pulls into Bill Jacobs BMW

Cross-Country Drive Raises More Than One Million Dollars
For Breast Cancer Research This Year  

Naperville , IL - October13, 2004… Hundreds of residents of Naperville , Illinois and 56 specially-marked BMWs were on hand today at Bill Jacobs BMW of Naperville, to celebrate the finale of the eighth annual BMW “ Ultimate Drive ” for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.   During the Ultimate Drive presentation, Jim McDowell, vice president of marketing for BMW of North America presented a check for $1 million to Cindy Schneible, vice-president of cause related marketing for the Komen Foundation, and underscored BMW’s continued commitment to breast cancer research and the Komen Foundation.   “We’ve reached this point in the journey with vigor and continued optimism,” said Mr. McDowell. “Thanks to research and screening, if caught early, breast cancer patients have a 95 percent survival rate. We couldn’t say that back in 1997 when we drove our first mile with the Komen Foundation. Now we’re saying, 95 percent is pretty good – let’s make that 100 percent survival!’

Mary Kay Thomas, Naperville resident and breast cancer survivor, was recognized for her personal commitment to the fight against breast cancer, and was honored during the presentation as a local hero. Ms. Thomas was awarded a plaque in recognition of her involvement, and signed the BMW Signature Car, adding her autograph to those of hundreds of courageous breast cancer survivors, friends and families who have participated in the Ultimate Drive program and signed the car during its travels over the last year.

Similar to all the Ultimate Drive events across the country, during the Finale, the specially-badged BMWs were available for test drives by the public. For every mile driven, BMW donated $1.00 to the Komen Foundation, the nation’s largest funder of breast cancer research.

Friends Co-Stars do their Part to Help Fight Breast Cancer

A new twist to this year’s Ultimate Drive program was the inclusion of a 2004 Mystic Blue BMW X3 Sports Activity Vehicle autographed on the hood by all six cast members of the hit television show “Friends.” The X3 is the grand prize in a national drawing designed by BMW to raise additional funds for the Komen Foundation this year. The Friends-signed X3 has traveled to several locations throughout the U.S. during the Ultimate Drive program, raising awareness and funds. For a suggested $10 donation, the general public has had the chance to enter to win this one-of-a-kind vehicle. The winning ticket will be drawn in November 2004. No donation was required for entry, and complete rules are available at www.bmwusa.com/theultimatedrive.   During the autograph session that took place outside of the “Friends” set at Warner Bros. studios in Burbank, CA, Courteney Cox Arquette whose mother-in-law, Mardi Arquette, passed away from the disease in 1996, said, “It is important to send the message that we all must do what we can to help fight breast cancer. Together we can help raise funds for research and community outreach programs and encourage other Americans to participate.”

The all-new 2004 BMW X3 (base MSRP - $30,995) is a mid-size Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) designed for active individuals and families. Two specially badged X3s were this year’s Ultimate Drive Signature Cars, and led two BMW fleets in fund raising events around the country. On display at the Finale, the X3 Signature vehicles were covered with signatures and photos of breast cancer supporters and survivors from around the country.

The Ultimate Drive Program

The Ultimate Drive is a driving program created by BMW in 1997 to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research and community outreach programs. The general public is invited to drive the fleet of BMWs at participating dealerships during an Ultimate Drive event. For each mile driven in one of the BMW Ultimate Drive vehicles, $1.00 is contributed to the Komen Foundation to support breast cancer research, education, screening and treatment programs.

This year, the program consisted of a 21-car northern and a 21-car southern fleet of 2004 Titanium Silver BMWs each headed by a lead Signature Car – the BMW X3 Sports Activity Vehicle. The X3s were painted, as were the fleet cars, in shimmering Titanium Silver with a sweeping pink ribbon comprised of eight multi-color pink lines that swirled around both sides of the vehicle. The eight multi-color pink lines that made up the ribbon, represented BMW’s eight-year commitment to the Ultimate Drive program. The additional BMWs in the fleet had a corresponding multi-color 8-line pink ribbon that started on the driver’s side of the hood and wrapped around to the side panel of the passenger side, highlighting a side panel that read: ‘DRIVEN TO FIND A CURE For the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.’   The BMW X3 SAV Signature vehicles were signed by thousands of Ultimate Drive participants, and for the duration of the program, became mobile representations of the individuals who are making a difference in the fight against breast cancer.

As in years past, at each Ultimate Drive event, there was an award presentation honoring a “Local Hero” – a community resident who has made an outstanding personal effort in the fight against breast cancer. A photograph of each hero was affixed to one of the two BMW X3 Signature Vehicles.   Now completing its eighth year, BMW of North America has raised more than $1 million in this year’s Ultimate Drive program, bringing BMW’s total contribution to the Komen Foundation to more than $8,000,000. There is no purchase necessary to drive the vehicles in the BMW Ultimate Drive fleet of cars, and all proceeds from the drives are donated to the Komen Foundation. All administrative costs of the Ultimate Drive Program are underwritten by BMW separately and apart from the funds raised for this program.

About the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation

The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation was established in 1982 by Nancy Brinker to honor the memory of her sister, Susan G. Komen, who died from breast cancer at the age of 36. Today, the Foundation is an international organization with a network of more than 75,000 volunteers working through local Affiliates and events like the Komen Race for the Cure to eradicate breast cancer as a life threatening disease. A global leader in the fight against breast cancer, the Foundation fulfills its mission through support of innovative breast cancer research grants, meritorious awards and educational, scientific and community outreach programs around the world. Together with its Affiliate Network, corporate partners and generous donors, the Komen Foundation has raised nearly $600 million for the fight against breast cancer.

For more information about breast health or breast cancer, visit www.komen.org or call the Komen Foundation’s National Toll-Free Breast Care Helpline at 1.800 I’M AWARE® (1-800-462-9273).