Customers Can Round-up to Help Local Afterschool Programs While
Shopping at JCPenney This Back-to-School Season
In time for the Back-to-School season, customers can once again benefit
local children in need by participating in the JCPenney Afterschool
Round-Up program. From now through Aug. 16, customers have the
opportunity to “round-up” their JCPenney purchases to the nearest whole
dollar and donate the difference to the JCPenney Afterschool Fund.
Donations will help the public charity provide children in need with
access to life-enriching afterschool programs that inspire them to be
smart, strong and socially responsible.
“The need for accessible and affordable afterschool programs continues
to be important to millions of America’s working families,” said Mike
Theilmann, chief human resources and administration officer for JCPenney
and chairman of the JCPenney Afterschool Fund. “As customers are
shopping this Back-to-School season for our exceptional style and
quality at affordable prices, we are inviting them to round-up their
purchases and provide children in need with access to afterschool
programs that will help them reach their full potential.”
Studies show that 14.3 million children in the United States are
unsupervised after school between the hours of 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. each
day. Youth who participate in quality afterschool programs demonstrate
improved academic, personal and social skills as well as increased
self-confidence and self-esteem. To increase the accessibility of
afterschool programs across the country, JCPenney created the JCPenney
Afterschool Fund in 2001, and together they have contributed more than
$70 million to support the afterschool cause nationwide, giving tens of
thousands of children the opportunity to participate in essential
afterschool programs. The JCPenney Afterschool Fund continues working
toward the day when all children in America will have access to
life-changing afterschool programs.
Last year, the JCPenney Afterschool Round-up program generated $3.3
million in contributions to the JCPenney Afterschool Fund. Each year,
100 percent of the round-up proceeds are given directly to local
afterschool programs in 1,106 communities where JCPenney has a store.
About JCPenney
JCPenney is one of America's leading retailers, operating 1,106
department stores throughout the United States and Puerto Rico, as well
as one of the largest apparel and home furnishing sites on the Internet,
jcp.com, and the nation's largest general merchandise catalog business.
Through these integrated channels, JCPenney offers a wide array of
national, private and exclusive brands which reflect the Company's
commitment to providing customers with style and quality at a smart
price. Traded as "JCP" on the New York Stock Exchange, the Company
posted revenue of $18.5 billion in 2008 and is executing its strategic
plan to be the growth leader in the retail industry. Key to this
strategy is JCPenney's "Every Day Matters" brand positioning, intended
to generate deeper, more emotionally driven relationships with customers
by fully engaging the Company's approximately 150,000 Associates to
offer encouragement, provide ideas and inspire customers every time they
shop with JCPenney.
About The JCPenney Afterschool Fund
The JCPenney Afterschool Fund is a charitable organization committed to
providing children in need with access to life-enriching afterschool
programs that inspire children to be smart, strong and socially
responsible. To date, JCPenney and the JCPenney Afterschool Fund have
contributed more than $70 million to local afterschool programs in every
JCPenney community through partnerships with the YMCA of the USA, Boys &
Girls Clubs of America, National 4-H and United Way of America. For more
information, visit www.jcpenneyafterschool.org
for more information.
JCPenney Corporate Communications
Quinton Crenshaw,
972-431-3400
jcpcorpcomm@jcpenney.com
