Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Puts a “Fresh Face” on the Fight Against Blood Cancers with New Affinity Credit Card Featuring Personalized Images

NEW YORK & WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.--(EON: Enhanced Online News)--The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) puts a “fresh face” on the fight against blood cancers today by becoming the first nonprofit in the world to offer an affinity credit card that can be personalized with a unique image, such as a patient’s face, the faces of those who support the patient, or nearly any image that has special meaning to the cardholder. Free, personalized LLS Visa affinity credit cards are offered in cooperation with CardPartner, a New York-based company that helps non-profits of all sizes establish the kinds of affinity credit card programs once reserved for the largest groups.

“The ability to personalize the image on a Visa credit card is a powerful tool for helping nonprofits strengthen the bonds with their supporters. In these difficult economic times, card customization is a real advantage for nonprofits.”

Cardholders who use their personalized LLS Visa Platinum affinity credit card for shopping, dining out, online purchases and other everyday activities support the mission of LLS to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life for patients and their families with each transaction. LLS, the world's largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research, education and patient services, earns $50 for each activated card, plus a share of the monthly charge volume, paid quarterly over the life of the card.

CardPartner operates to maximize returns for its partners by stripping out costs, operating in the virtual environment, offering free, customized self-service marketing tools, and working with groups on a “human scale” not often seen in the credit card industry.

Consumers can go to https://www.cardpartner.com/app/lls to apply online for the LLS Visa Platinum affinity credit card and choose one of two LLS templates in which to upload a personal image. Consumers can sample the “look” of their personalized card online in real-time. Once the application and image are approved, personalized cards are delivered directly to the consumer, normally within two weeks.

“Imagine what a powerful and creative tool the LLS Visa affinity credit card will become,” said Nancy L. Klein, Chief Marketing and Revenue officer of LLS. “The simple act of using the card in the course of everyday life will add new resources to the ongoing work to find a cure and to improve the lives of those living with leukemia, lymphoma and other blood cancers. The fact that the LLS affinity credit card can be personalized with unique images is a great motivator for people to use the card and a wonderful way to help spread the word about our work.”

Doug Davis, CardPartner’s senior director of sales & marketing, said, “With the launch of personalized affinity credit cards, LLS is re-defining the affinity credit card category. No matter its size, any nonprofit can now offer a free personalized credit card that builds incremental revenue and donor loyalty and competes with similar products offered by for-profit groups.”

Mark Levitt, CardPartner’s senior creative director, said, “The ability to personalize the image on a Visa credit card is a powerful tool for helping nonprofits strengthen the bonds with their supporters. In these difficult economic times, card customization is a real advantage for nonprofits.”

Gap, Old Navy & Banana Republic Offer LLS Shoppers 30% Discount

To help celebrate the launch of the LLS Visa affinity credit card, the Gap, Inc. will include LLS as one of six national charities that will receive up to 5% of the net sales on any purchase at Gap, Old Navy, or Banana Republic made between March 12-15 using a special LLS-coded 30% discount coupon that can be downloaded at http://www.gapgiveandget.com/np/lls.html . By charging the purchase on an LLS Visa affinity credit card, shoppers create a multiplier effect for LLS.

About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is the world's largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer. The LLS mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world and provides free information and support services. Founded in 1949 and headquartered in White Plains, NY, LLS has chapters throughout the United States and Canada. To learn more, visit www.LLS.org or contact the Information Resource Center at [phone], Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET.

About CardPartner

CardPartner, Inc. (www.cardpartner.com) is an online company that specializes in helping U.S.-based membership organizations and nonprofits create free, customized Visa credit card programs. CardPartner is a unit of the privately held Serverside Group, a technology provider to many of the world’s leading banks. CardPartner affinity credit cards are issued by UMB Financial Corporation (NASDAQ: UMBF), one of the largest independent banks in the United States and Smart Money magazine’s pick as “…the highest scoring traditional bank among our favorites.”