U.S. and Italian postal services produce fund-raising stamps - Voluntary Sector - United States, Italy, funding for breast cancer foundations - Brief Article

Community Action, April 15, 2002

As the U.S. Postal Service begins charging an extra five cents for its breast cancer stamp Italian post is also producing a stamp for the same cause through the purchase of the first Italian postage stamp to benefit a health-related cause.

Modeled after the American program, the Italian breast cancer stamp was issued earlier this month, and an estimated 12.5 million stamps have been produced.

Italy's second "semi-postal stamp," which will be available through 2003, commemorates the 50th anniversary of the death of the last Italian queen, Elena di Savoia, funding the first cancer center in Italy. The Italian stamp is priced higher than the standard first-class letter rate. The earnings will be applied toward furthering the cause of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.