KNOXVILLE, TN — The Knoxville Post Office, located at 1237 E. Weisgarber Road, will host an event to promote breast cancer awareness and celebrate the success of the first semipostal stamp, the Breast Cancer Research Stamp, on Wednesday, October 25, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the lobby.

A balloon release at 2:00 p.m. in front of the office will conclude the event.  The public is invited and encouraged to attend. 

The Breast Cancer Research Semipostal stamp was authorized by the U.S. Congress in 1997 and first issued in July 1998. It sells for 60 cents, which is currently 11 cents more than the regular First-Class Mail one-ounce stamped letter price (49 cents). By law, the amount above the regular stamp price goes to help fund breast cancer research at the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Defense’s Medical Research Program. Since 1998, $86 million has been raised for this purpose through the sale of the semipostal stamp.

The Postal Service does not receive tax dollars for operating expenses; it relies entirely on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations. 

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