Boulder Volunteers Shave Their Heads - Raising $1,000,000 in Support of Childhood Cancer Research

BOULDER, Colo., Dec. 12, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- In a bold statement of solidarity with kids with cancer, more than 3,000 Boulder volunteers have "gone bald" over the past nine years during the annual St. Baldrick's Foundation signature head-shaving events. On Friday, Dec. 13, St. Baldrick's CEO Kathleen Ruddy will present a special award to Boulder-based tea manufacturer Celestial Seasonings^® in recognition of the brand's support of St. Baldrick's efforts in the Boulder community.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131212/NY31978LOGO)

Since 2005, St. Baldrick's Foundation events in Boulder have raised a cumulative total of over $1,000,000 in support of childhood cancer research, helping to raise awareness for children and families affected by cancer in the Boulder community. The annual fundraising totals have increased from $39,000 in 2005 to more than $200,000 in 2013, when more than 400 volunteers' heads were shaved during six Boulder community events.

"St. Baldrick's started in Boulder in 2005 as a true grassroots effort," said Kathleen Ruddy, CEO of the St. Baldrick's Foundation. "With no marketing budget, we relied on a few volunteers to galvanize our efforts. Of the numerous local businesses we contacted for help, Celestial Seasonings stepped up in a big way and adopted St. Baldrick's as a cause of their own."

As a lone event trying to find its roots in a new community, this local sponsorship proved to be decisive. Celestial Seasonings immediately put together its own team of shavees^SM (nicknamed the "Bald Zingers") for the 2005 inaugural St. Baldrick's event, and provided tea and gift bags for all participants. Over 80 shavees went bald – including some members of the Celestial Seasonings team, middle school students, grandparents, ROTC cadets from the University of Colorado, and even a few brave women.

"We're extremely proud to have sponsored St. Baldrick's Shave-a-Thons since the very beginning, and to have been part of the amazing growth of the event since then," said David Ziegert, general manager at Celestial Seasonings and a shavee. "Seeing the fundraising total cross the $1,000,000 mark is a testament to the hard work, dedication and vision of the Boulder St. Baldrick's community."

Why all the shaved heads? According to the World Health Organization, a child is diagnosed with cancer every three minutes worldwide. Here in America, the National Cancer Institute reports that only 4 percent of all federal cancer research funding dedicated to pediatric cancer research, and that one in five children diagnosed in the U.S. will not survive. These sobering statistics demonstrate why St. Baldrick's Foundation volunteers, supporters and donors are needed more than ever to continue the battle against this devastating disease.

About St. Baldrick's Foundation
The St. Baldrick's Foundation is a volunteer-driven charity committed to funding the most promising research to find cures for childhood cancers and give survivors long and healthy lives. St. Baldrick's coordinates its signature head-shaving events worldwide where participants collect pledges to shave their heads in solidarity with kids with cancer, raising money to fund research. Since 2005, St. Baldrick's has awarded more than $127 million to support lifesaving research, making the Foundation the largest private funder of childhood cancer research grants. St. Baldrick's funds are granted to some of the most brilliant childhood cancer research experts in the world and to younger professionals who will be the experts of tomorrow. Funds awarded also enable hundreds of local institutions to participate in national pediatric cancer clinical trials, and the new International Scholar grants train researchers to work in developing countries. For more information about the St. Baldrick's Foundation please call 1.888.899.BALD or visit www.StBaldricks.org.

Celestial Seasonings, Inc.
For more than 40 years, Celestial Seasonings, Inc. (a subsidiary of The Hain Celestial Group, Inc., NASDAQ: HAIN) has created delicious, all-natural specialty teas that are good for you and good for the world. The brand currently offers more than 70 unique and healthful varieties of herbal, green, black, wellness, Rooibos and chai teas, as well as ready-to-drink beverages like organic Kombucha and natural shots. Each blend is expertly crafted from the finest herbs, teas, spices and botanicals, and is presented in packaging adorned with the beautiful imagery and inspiring words that are part of the brand's heritage. From calming and relaxing to refreshing and rejuvenating to everyday health and wellness support, there's a Celestial Seasonings^® product for any mood, any moment, any time of day. For more information, visit celestialseasonings.com or facebook.com/CelestialSeasonings.

SOURCE Celestial Seasonings, Inc.