Lee National Denim Day

Keerthana Ramasamy
Dec 22, 2023 By Keerthana Ramasamy
Originally Published on Feb 05, 2022
Fact-checked by Amatullah Gulbargawala
Learn about Lee National Denim Day with us.

Where is Lee National Denim Day observed?

Lee National Denim Day on the first Friday of October is observed in the United States of America to raise funds and create awareness about breast cancer in the U.S.

Who is Lee National Denim Day observed by?

The day was created as a fundraising campaign for breast cancer. This day can be observed by anyone. 

When did Lee National Denim Day first start?

On the first Friday of October 1996, Lee Jeans introduced a fundraising campaign where employees of participating companies were allowed to wear denim to work in exchange for a five-dollar contribution to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

Who started Lee National Denim Day?

Lee Jeans started the day as a fundraiser to raise awareness about the women's cancer programs of the Entertainment Industry Foundation.

History And Timeline

In the 25 year journey of Lee National Denim Day, people have raised more than $83 million in funding. Read further to learn about 25 years of Lee National Denim Day.

Fundraiser

This year, Lee Jeans realized that most of their employees were affected by breast cancer in one form or another. So to raise funds and awareness for women's cancer programs, they introduced Lee National Denim Day.

1996

Astonishing Response

When initiating the campaign in 1996, the original goal was to raise $1 million, but the event made $1.4 million. So, the fundraiser was repeated as an annual campaign from 1997, and now it's observed on the first Friday in October every year.

1997

Token Of Gratitude

As a token of appreciation, employees at nearly 18,000 companies and organizations wore denim on Lee National Denim Day.

2006

Highest Single-hand Fundraiser

On the 12th anniversary of Lee National Denim Day, more than $66 million in funds were raised to fight against breast cancer.

2008

20 Years Of Lee Denim Day

Lee Jeans celebrated their 20th anniversary of raising awareness and funding to aid in the fight against breast cancer.

2015

Traditions And Customs

You can join the various awareness events conducted by Lee Jeans every year. On Lee National Denim Day, talk about breast cancer awareness among your close circle and wear Lee denim as a token of appreciation.

Make sure to join this noble cause by wearing jeans and by donating five dollars to this association, which aims to save the lives of people with breast cancer.

Ways To Observe Or Celebrate Lee National Denim Day

The obvious and most respectful way of celebrating this day is wearing denim and donating money to support breast cancer programs at Lee Labs. In addition, you can also donate to other breast cancer research programs. 

On October 7, go to work wearing your favorite jeans and make a donation to support programs at Lee Labs.

Finally, do not forget to spread awareness about Lee National Denim Day and more effective treatments for breast cancer.

Facts And Stats

  • As per Lee National Denim Day reports, approximately 800,000 individuals wore denim in 2008 for Lee National Denim Day.
  • In an attempt to raise awareness more successfully, Lee National Denim Day has had multiple spokespersons throughout their journey from 1996-2010. Celebrities are selected based on two criteria: their connection to breast cancer and audience appeal.
  • The first male spokesperson for the Lee fundraiser was actor Rob Lowe. His grandmother and great-grandmother both had breast cancer. Rob acted in the TV show named 'The West Wing'.
  • In 2013, through the 'CHANGE Grant Program,' Lee helped the American Cancer Society to reach women in areas with limited access to breast cancer screening.
  • As per a statement released by Kim Yates, vice president of Lee, they have funded 11 national cancer research training projects of the American Cancer Society with more than $2.4 million raised.

How does observing Lee National Denim Day support cancer patients?

Every year, people are asked to donate the money they would spend on a pair of jeans to support breast cancer research and wellness programs.

What is the importance of Lee National Denim Day?

The day was created to raise funds for a cancer grant program and raise awareness in the U.S. It has been doing so since 1996.

How much did Lee National Denim Day raise?

From 1996-2021, they have raised more than $83 million in funds in women's cancer programs.

Who came up with Lee National Denim Days?

The idea of the day was proposed by Lee Jeans with the aim of raising awareness about cancer programs. Since it began, funds raised have gone to support many charities.

When Is This Day Celebrated

  • Friday, October 09, 2020
  • Friday, October 01, 2021
  • Friday, October 07, 2022
  • Wednesday, October 04, 2023
  • Friday, October 06, 2023

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Sources

https://www.awarenessdays.com/awareness-days-calendar/lee-national-denim-day-in-the-usa-2021/

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/american-cancer-society-and-lee-jeans-working-together-to-support-breast-cancer-programs-and-services-through-lee-national-denim-day-300135413.html

https://www.bionity.com/en/encyclopedia/Lee_National_Denim_Day.html

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Written by Keerthana Ramasamy

Bachelor of Engineering specializing in Electrical and Electronics Engineering

Keerthana Ramasamy picture

Keerthana RamasamyBachelor of Engineering specializing in Electrical and Electronics Engineering

With a background in electrical and electronics engineering from Sri Ramakrishna Engineering College, Keerthana brings a unique blend of technical expertise and creative flair to her role as a content writer. Her natural curiosity and passion for exploring new career paths led her to the exciting world of content marketing, where she has honed her content optimization, SEO, and Google Analytics skills. Keerthana's experience as a Content Marketing Specialist at GetMyUni has provided her with hands-on experience in digital marketing and editing, allowing her to create engaging and impactful content.

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Fact-checked by Amatullah Gulbargawala

Bachelor of Arts specializing in English, Bachelor of Education specializing in the Language Arts

Amatullah Gulbargawala picture

Amatullah GulbargawalaBachelor of Arts specializing in English, Bachelor of Education specializing in the Language Arts

Amatullah is a passionate student pursuing a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education from Ashoka College of Education. With a keen interest in literature, she has excelled in elocution competitions and is an accomplished writer. She has completed courses like "History of English Language and Literature", "Introduction to Western Political Thought and Theory", and "Development of Soft Skills and Personality". In her free time, Amatullah enjoys reading books and writing poetry.

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