TV and film star Joan Cusack, actress Jayma Mays of "Glee" and Peter Facinelli of The Twilight Saga will compete against each other to sell the most cookies in an effort to raise money for pediatric cancer research. The Celebrity Cookie Challenge online bake sale is sponsored by The Glad Products Company to support Cookies For Kids Cancer, a non-profit organization that raises money for research for new and improved treatments for pediatric cancer through bake sales and online cookie sales. Pediatric cancer is the leading cause of death by disease for children in the United States, yet approximately half of the drugs used to treat children with cancer are at least 20 years old.
The three actors have begun rallying support online by encouraging visits to the Glad to Give Facebook page, where fans can join their team by "liking" them. Joining a team allows participants to receive updates about celebrity activities surrounding the cookie challenge and display their team spirit by embedding a celebrity team badge on their website or blog.
In addition, each celebrity will host a live stream telethon on the Glad to Give Facebook page, encouraging fans to either buy cookies or donate money online to Cookies For Kids' Cancer. During each one-hour virtual bake sale, participants can ask the actors questions in real-time, listen to exclusive interviews, watch baking demonstrations of the actors' favorite cookie recipes, and have a chance to win autographed "Team Joan," "Team Jayma" or "Team Peter" tee-shirts. By purchasing cookies virtually from each celebrity, participants can help their favorite team raise the most dough and win. Check the Glad to Give Facebook page for additional details regarding the live stream bake sales in early November.
"We're thrilled to be partnering with these great actors and to use the power of the Facebook community to hopefully reach and inspire consumers to help us set a record year for fundraising for Cookies For Kids' Cancer," said Bob Hillman, brand manager for Glad.
Unable to Tune into the Celebrity Cookie Challenge?
You can be a good cookie and help fund pediatric cancer research. Here are three other ways to get involved:
Host a Bake Sale- Now through Dec. 31, 2010, Glad will match all funds raised through Cookies for Kids' Cancer bake sales, up to $200,000. Go to www.GladtoGive.com to learn how to register your bake sale.
Purchase Glad Products - Now through September 2011, consumers who purchase specially-marked Glad products and enter a code from the package at www.GladtoGive.com will trigger a $1 donation from Glad to Cookies for Kids' Cancer, up to $200,000. This is in addition to the brand's $200,000 bake sale match this season.
Buy Cookies - Don't have time to bake? In November, buy delicious cookies at www.CookiesForKidsCancer.org and 100 percent of the net revenue will benefit the charity.
"Hosting a bake sale is just one way to help, but please do something," said Gretchen Witt, founder of Cookies for Kids' Cancer and mother of 6-year-old Liam who has been battling cancer since he was two. "Let's show parents what it means to live with hope and give more kids a chance at being a kid. A cure for pediatric cancer begins with us."
