Samsung Semiconductor Hosting VP’s 100-mile Single-day Bike Trek for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Following last year’s 550-mile bike trek from San Jose to Hollywood to help charities fighting deadly diseases, Scott Birnbaum, vice president, Samsung Semiconductor, Inc., is at it again, this time preparing to pedal 100 more miles down the northern California coast to raise donations on behalf of the patients and families of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital^®.

“What’s important is that we raise awareness and money through this unusual undertaking for a spectacular children’s hospital that supports the best of causes.”

Birnbaum will ride from Half Moon Bay to Carmel, Calif. on Oct 27 in an arduous one-day journey. Donations to support his effort will assist in basic and clinical research for children’s disease cures and treatment. St. Jude Children’s Hospital treats children from around the country and annually welcomes more than 7,800 patients seeking medical assistance. No family ever pays St. Jude anything for the care of their child.

“I’m incredibly excited to get back on the bike and meet this challenge in the name of finding cures for children’s diseases. Leading up to the endeavor, I’ve been rigorously training and am determined to push my body to the limit in a single day to reach my goal of helping to save children’s lives,” said Samsung’s Birnbaum. “What’s important is that we raise awareness and money through this unusual undertaking for a spectacular children’s hospital that supports the best of causes.”

The “Gears for Giving” campaign raised close to $6,500 last year to support four charities: The Boomer Esiason Foundation, the Dan Marino Foundation, the Jimmie Johnson Foundation and the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. This year, Birnbaum’s goal is to raise $10,000.

Samsung is matching Gears for Giving donations from its employees dollar-for-dollar. Others are encouraged to donate by visiting the St. Jude’s site. Donors can simply click on the foundation links for the Samsung Gears for Giving event to specify their donation amount.

The Gears for Giving trek will take place on Saturday, Oct. 27. Those interested in more details can follow the progress on Samsung’s Facebook and Twitter channels.

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in semiconductor, telecommunication, digital media and digital convergence technologies with 2010 consolidated sales of US$135.8 billion. Employing approximately 190,500 people in 206 offices across 68 countries, the company consists of eight independently operated business units: Visual Display, Mobile Communications, Telecommunication Systems, Digital Appliances, IT Solutions, Digital Imaging, Semiconductor and LCD. Recognized as one of the fastest growing global brands, Samsung Electronics is a leading producer of digital TVs, semiconductor chips, mobile phones and TFT-LCDs. For more information, please visit www.samsung.com.

About St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

The mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is to advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. Since opening in 1962, St. Jude has made great discoveries in how to treat deadly childhood diseases like cancer and saving the lives of kids around the world. Doctors send some of their toughest cases and sickest patients to St. Jude. And, consistent with the vision of our founder Danny Thomas, no child is denied treatment based on race, religion or a family's ability to pay.