Cecil Saydah line to benefit pediatric cancer patients

By Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 9/17/2003 12:00:00 AM

Los Angeles — Cecil Saydah International (CSI) recently partnered with the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation (PCRF) to produce a line of kitchen textiles, bath products, scatter rugs and doormats that feature the artwork of children with cancer.

The line is set to launch this week at market. It will also include some holiday-themed items in the same product categories for preview. A portion of the sales go to PCRF.

The licensing agreement marks the first for PCRF, which was established in 1982 to help fund childhood cancer research. To date, the foundation has raised more than $12 million.

"We are grateful for this new venue, not only as an opportunity to raise funds but to raise awareness as well," said Bonnie Dankberg, PCRF board member and 17-year volunteer.

Deborah Powell, director of licensing, CSI, first came across PCRF almost 10 years ago while shopping for Christmas cards. Every year, the foundation creates a line of cards with young cancer victims' drawings. The proceeds from these sales account for 25 percent of its yearly revenue.

"The cute designs are what first drew me to the cards. To find out where they came from and where the money would go made it an extremely gratifying purchase and began a tradition for the years to follow," Powell said. "Our hope is this will translate to home textiles products with the same excitement. This is a win, win, win opportunity."