Clarke American Checks, Inc. is proud to offer Loving Reflections™ cause-related checks and check-related products to support the fight against breast cancer. Loving Reflections products were first introduced by Clarke American in September 2000 to promote and aid education and treatment programs that serve breast cancer patients and survivors in the United States.

Through its focus on this cause, the company hopes to help increase the public’s awareness of breast cancer this October in recognition of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and National Mammography Day on October 17.

Statistics tell the story. According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 211,300 new invasive cases of breast cancer are expected to occur among women in the United States during 2003. Other than skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women. Approximately 39,800 women will die each year from breast cancer, making it the second-leading cause of cancer death (lung cancer is the leading cause) for all women. It is the leading overall cause of death in women between the ages of 40 and 55. And one of every eight women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime.

The good news is that increased use of mammography and new treatments are decreasing breast cancer death rates, with a 3.2 percent annual decline in mortality reported between 1995 and 1998. Education and awareness programs are providing women with information about lifestyle choices and preventative measures that equip them to manage their risks for breast cancer.

You can show your support year-round for programs that promote breast cancer prevention, education and treatment with your Loving Reflections order. Each time a Loving Reflections check, return address label or leather cover order is placed, a total of 10 percent of the proceeds is divided equally between two breast cancer research and service organizations, the Cancer Therapy & Research Center (CTRC) and the Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization.

Each Loving Reflections check order features a five-scene, photographic series of women in different stages of life and a pink foil Breast Cancer Awareness ribbon as an accent. The checks are also available as a ValuePack™, which includes coordinating return address labels, a tan, full-grain leather cover and express delivery at a package price. You can view Loving Reflections products by visiting— www.clarkeamerican.com and clicking on “personal check designs.”

Place your Loving Reflections order and remind the women in your life to empower themselves with information because “The Best Protection is Early Detection.” If your financial institution offers Clarke American products, you can order these special checks and coordinating accessories.

Clarke American provides checks and check-related products, contact center services and direct response marketing solutions for the financial services industry. Each year, the company produces more than 10 billion personal and business checks in a variety of formats for more than 4,000 financial institutions throughout the country. More than 3,300 Clarke American associates serve the financial services industry through a network of electronically linked production facilities and customer service centers across the United States.

Clarke American is a recipient of the 2001 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award in the manufacturing category, awarded by the U.S. Department of Commerce. For more information about Clarke American, visit www.clarkeamerican.com.

For information about this press release contact
Mike Hannan
(210) 697-1299