ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

In observance of October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, 106 U.S. Bank offices, including Schunck's in-store branches, in the St. Louis metro area will be collecting tax-deductible donations payable to the "Friends of Missouri Women's Council." Proceeds will go to fund mammograms for women who are uninsured or underinsured. To help kick things off, the Richmond Center Schnucks at 6600 Clayton Road (63117) will host Missouri's First Lady Melanie Blunt on Thursday, Oct. 2 at 3 p.m. Mrs. Blunt will introduce the Missouri Women's Council's Pink License Plate Program benefiting cancer treatments and research. U.S. Bank offices also have applications for pink license plates that can be purchased to raise needed funds for breast cancer services.

Joe Imbs, U.S. Bank regional chair and St. Louis market president, praised First Lady Blunt's tireless efforts to raise the awareness on the importance of early breast cancer detection. He said that this is the second year that U.S. Bank has been a pink link in the chain of business partners who have joined to support healthcare initiatives of the Missouri Women's Council. "U.S. Bank is teaming up with our in-store Schnucks partner to not only have a place to make donations for this important cause, but also to raise awareness about the importance of regular health screenings and on-going research as we fight breast cancer."

Schnucks leaders have announced plans to once again "paint the stores pink." Pink Captain volunteers will be available at many stores to provide further information about Schnucks' Together for the Cure promotion, which hopes to raise needed funds through newly repackaged pink products purchased throughout the store. In addition, the volunteers have applications for the Women's Council's Pink license plate program, in which monies collected will also go to encouraging early detection and breast cancer treatment.

According to American Cancer Society projections, approximately 178,480 American women would be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007 - a decrease of 8,292 from 2004, the last year when actual data was available.

The Missouri Women's Council serves as a resource and referral center to help encourage, educate and support Missouri women as they pursue their economic goals. It is a portal designed to connect women to a network of accessible, high-quality advisory services and information that include employment and training, starting a business and how to balancing work and family. In keeping with that mission, the Breast Cancer Awareness Plate program supports women and families by raising funds for the sole purpose of providing breast cancer services. For additional information or to download an application for the "Pink Plate," please visit the Women's Council's site at www.womenscouncil.org.

U.S. Bancorp (NYSE:USB), with $247 billion in assets, is the parent company of U.S. Bank, the 6th largest commercial bank in the United States. The company operates 2,542 banking offices and 4,895 ATMs, and provides a comprehensive line of banking, brokerage, insurance, investment, mortgage, trust and payment services products to consumers, businesses and institutions. Visit U.S. Bancorp on the web at www.usbank.com.

Founded in St. Louis in 1939, Schnuck Markets, Inc. operates 103 stores (including five Logli stores) and 100 pharmacies in Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa, Tennessee and Mississippi.

Source: U.S. Bank