LOS ANGELES, May 30, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Beginning today, May 30th, 'N Sync's Lance Bass and Entourage's Emmanuelle Chriqui will battle to see who can raise the most money for their favorite charity, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or Colon Cancer Canada. The Power of 2 (www.power-of-2.org), a charity initiative dedicated to unlocking celebrity power for social good,has wrangled the star studded pair to duke it out for their debut American P2 match-up – and there's a catch, the loser has to perform a crazy stunt.
The Power of 2 allows celebrities to go beyond the red carpet and use social media as a tool to make meaningful social impact and educate their fans. And, the bet will make things very interesting. Fans can donate $2 or more to Emmanuelle and Lance's favorite charity at www.power-of-2.org as many times as they would like up till midnight on Thursday, June 14th to see who will be crowned the Power of 2 champion.
Both charities will win, but the celebrity loser will have to cash in during a very public dare. If Emmanuelle wins, Lance will dress up as PooFu the dog (a costume he wore for one of his first jobs in Laurel, Mississippi) and Emmanuelle will walk him though LA's Runyon Canyon, the area's most popular hiking and dog walking spot.
"I lost my mother to colon cancer at a very young age and my father continues to battle the disease," states Emmanuelle. "This is a cause very close to my heart, and it's a preventable cancer if caught in time. That's why I've made it my mission to promote awareness and take the shame out of getting tested. And this spring I'm looking forward to this Power of 2 competition, earning the most donations and taking Lance on a good long walk."
But if Lance wins, Emmanuelle will have to hit the stage and sing with Steel Panther at the House of Blues on Sunset Boulevard and face that all too common fear, even for an accomplished actor, singing in public!
"I know Emmanuelle has a real fear of singing in public, so if I'm going to win this Power of 2 wager I want to see her hit the stage," says Lance. "And this is such a great, and easy, opportunity for all of us to use social media for good. My charity, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, does more than good. They change the lives of kids and families all over the world, every single day."
The Power of 2 is win-win-win: Both charities get a big check to support their great work, Emmanuelle and Lance have fun online conversations with their fans and colleagues, and fans get an opportunity to engage and support their favorite celebrity through an important social cause. Get social Twitter @PWROF2 and Facebook
That's the Power of 2.
About Power of 2
Power of 2 is a Public Inc. initiative (www.publicinc.com) aimed at unlocking the power of celebrity for social good. Public Inc. is social purpose business that believes everyone should profit by doing good. The company mobilizes the public through innovative fundraising, advocacy and volunteer engagement campaigns for worthwhile causes. With the Power of 2, the principle is simple. Two celebrities go head-to-head to see who can raise the most money for the charity that they are passionate about. The request to their fans is to give $2 or more, get 2 friends to do the same and see who comes out on top. To up the ante (and the fun) there is a wager on the deal between the two celebrities. This spring, it's Emmanuelle Chriqui vs. Lance Bass, may the best fundraiser win!
The Power of 2 logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=13060
About St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Since opening 50 years ago, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (www.stjude.org) has changed the way the world treats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. No family ever pays St. Jude for the care their child receives, and for every child treated, thousands more have been saved worldwide through St. Jude discoveries. The hospital has played a pivotal role in pushing U.S. pediatric cancer survival rates from 20 to 80 percent overall, and is the first and only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted to children. It is also a leader in the research and treatment of blood disorders and infectious diseases in children. St. Jude was founded by the late entertainer Danny Thomas, who believed that no child should die in the dawn of life. Join that mission by visiting stjude.org or following us on facebook.com/stjude and twitter.com/stjude.
About Colon Cancer Canada
Colon Cancer Canada (www.coloncancercanada.ca) is a national organization dedicated to saving lives through increasing public awareness of colorectal cancer and access to screening, funding research initiatives, and providing colorectal cancer patient support.