HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill., Nov. 5 Kmart is helping make Christmas count for others this holiday season by again participating in St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Thanks and Giving(®) campaign. For the fourth consecutive year, Kmart has partnered with St. Jude to help bring a happier Christmas to children and families across the country. Today, to kick off this year's partnership and to encourage others to participate in charitable giving this holiday season, Kmart is making the first donation of $10,000.
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"The tremendous support Kmart and its customers have brought to our patients and their families is quite astounding," said John Remington, senior vice president of ALSAC, the fundraising arm of St. Jude. "We hope everyone will embrace this holiday season and see it as an opportunity to help the kids of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Every generous gift goes such a long way in helping provide the research and care needed for the children and their families."
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On Thursday, Nov. 5 at 10 a.m., Kmart will present its first donation to St. Jude at the Kmart store at Penn Plaza in New York City. Santa will be on site to witness the charitable giving and encourage others to join - in exchange for a spot on his "nice" list, just in time for the holidays. Eight-year-old Ben, a St. Jude patient, and his family will also be at the event sharing their story of how St. Jude helped save his life.
"Kmart has always been committed to children and their health, which is why we look forward to being a part of the Thanks and Giving campaign again this year," said Mark Snyder, Kmart's chief marketing officer. "Money donated goes to help children with serious health conditions like eight-year-old St. Jude patient Ben, who was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor at the age of two. We hope everyone, who can, will join us and celebrate the good St. Jude brings by spreading the holiday cheer with a donation."
Kmart is encouraging its customers to join in its support for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and "give thanks for the healthy kids in your life, and give to those who are not." Kmart will collect contributions from shoppers nationwide throughout the holiday season. Customers can get involved and donate to the St. Jude Thanks and Giving campaign by:
"Supporting wonderful charities such as St. Jude goes a long way and helps so many children have a happier and healthier life," added Snyder.
Over the past four years, Kmart has raised nearly $10 million, and the retailer continues to raise the bar encouraging its customers to donate and help give even more money than last season's record-breaking contribution.
For more information, visit www.kmart.com or www.stjude.org.
About Kmart
Kmart, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sears Holdings Corporation (Nasdaq: SHLD), is a mass merchandising company that offers customers quality products through a portfolio of exclusive brands that include Jaclyn Smith, Joe Boxer, County Living and Route 66. For more information visit the company's Web site at www.kmart.com or the Sears Holdings Corporation Web site at www.searsholdings.com.
About St. Jude
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is internationally recognized for its pioneering work in finding cures and saving children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases. St. Jude is the first and only pediatric cancer center to be designated as a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute. Founded by late entertainer Danny Thomas and based in Memphis, Tenn., St. Jude freely shares its discoveries with scientific and medical communities around the world. St. Jude is the only pediatric cancer research center where families never pay for treatment not covered by insurance. No child is ever denied treatment because of the family's inability to pay. St. Jude is financially supported by ALSAC, its fundraising organization. For more information, please visit www.stjude.org.
About Thanks and Giving
The St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Thanks and Giving national campaign is an unprecedented union of celebrities, media, retail and corporate partners that ask consumers to "Give thanks for the healthy kids in your life, and give to those who are not." The Thanks and Giving initiative was created in 2004 by Marlo Thomas and her siblings Terre and Tony Thomas, children of St. Jude founder Danny Thomas. Funds raised by the campaign support the lifesaving work of St. Jude - to find cures for children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. St. Jude impacts the lives of children in communities across the country. Consumers are asked to shop at companies where the St. Jude green magnifying glass logo is displayed; donate online at www.stjude.org, where a list of fund-raising partners is available, or call 1-800-4STJUDE.
-- Shopping in Kmart where you will see the St. Jude Thanks and Giving magnifying glass and adding a donation at the check-out counter -- Donating online at www.stjude.org/kmartdonate
SOURCE Kmart
