JCPenney’s Round-up Campaign Raises $4.7 Million for Local Afterschool Programs
PLANO, Texas (Jan. 4, 2010) – J. C. Penney Company, Inc. (NYSE: JCP) customers are helping provide children in their own communities with access to life-enriching afterschool programs after donating more than $1.7 million during the most recent JCPenney Afterschool Round-up campaign. Combined with funds raised from three additional events held earlier in the year, customer contributions resulted in an annual total of $4.7 million to help make affordable afterschool programs accessible in every JCPenney market.
During each 10-day event, shoppers were invited to “round-up” their JCPenney purchases to the nearest whole dollar and donate the difference to the JCPenney Afterschool Fund. All proceeds directly benefitted a local afterschool program in over 1,100 communities where JCPenney has a store.
“During a time when charitable giving is down across the country, JCPenney customers have come together to make a significant impact in the lives of America’s youth,” said Mike Theilmann, chief human resources and administration officer for JCPenney and chairman of the JCPenney Afterschool Fund. “Our customers continue to demonstrate their support for their community as Round-up donations increased 14 percent over last year.”
As the corporate leader in the afterschool movement, JCPenney’s pledge to sustain and enhance the availability of afterschool programs at organizations such as the Boys & Girls Clubs, YMCA and 4-H addresses an important social need to expand personal development opportunities for disadvantaged youth.
According to recent data derived from America After 3PM, a national survey commissioned by the JCPenney Afterschool Fund and the Afterschool Alliance to explore how America’s children are spending their afternoons, reveals that more than a quarter of America’s school children (15.1 million) are on their own between the hours of 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. each day. Key findings from the 2009 report further suggest that more parents (of 18.5 million children) are seeking the resources to enroll their children in a beneficial afterschool program when compared to results taken from the 2004 edition of the study. The majority of parents surveyed recognize that participation in afterschool programs help kids develop social skills, provide opportunities to be physically active and achieve academic success in school.
Through fundraising events such as Round-up, JCPenney is helping to build the national afterschool infrastructure and provide innovative programming in local communities. JCPenney’s legacy of community involvement is a reflection of the Company’s social responsibility initiatives known as C.A.R.E.S. – representing JCPenney’s ongoing commitment to Community, Associates, Responsible Sourcing, Environment and Sustainable products.
The full America After 3PM report is available online at www.jcpenneyafterschool.org.
About JCPenney’s Commitment to Afterschool
As the leading corporate advocate for the afterschool issue, JCPenney works with afterschool organizations to increase the accessibility and affordability of afterschool programs across the country. Through its legacy of supporting youth and charitable organizations such as the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, YMCA of the USA, National 4-H, United Way and FIRST, JCPenney formalized its commitment to the afterschool issue by making it the Company’s signature cause in 1999. Since its inception, more than $80 million has been distributed to afterschool programs in every JCPenney community thereby making it possible for more children to participate in life-enriching programs that inspire them to be smart, strong and socially responsible. For more information, visit www.jcpenneyafterschool.org.
JCPenney Corporate Communications:
Daphne Avila; 972-431-3400; jcpcorpcomm@jcpenney.com
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