CONTACT:
Sears Public Relations And Communications
(847) 286-8371
Sears Holdings Kicks Off Memorial Day Fundraiser to Honor Military Families at Home
Partnership with Rebuilding Together to renovate home of another deserving
veteran and continue to improve the lives of military families across the
country
HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill., May 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- In celebration
of Memorial Day, Sears Holdings will kick off a nationwide fundraising
effort for Heroes at Home(SM), a charitable partnership with the nation's
leading volunteer home rehabilitation organization, Rebuilding Together.
Through Heroes at Home, Sears seeks to improve the lives of military
families in need across America by making necessary repairs, improvements
or modifications to their homes.
This fundraising effort is the third spearheaded by Sears Holdings to
benefit Heroes at Home. From May 22 through July 6, customers will be able
to participate in this initiative by using their SearsCard, purchasing a
Heroes at Home gift card, or by making donations in-store and online. Sears
will make a donation of up to $500,000 for credit card purchases made at
any of its Sears stores during that period of time. At Kmart, customers can
support Heroes at Home through the purchase of any Hershey's product.
Hershey's will make a donation of $100,000 to Heroes at Home regardless of
the amount of product purchased. The monies raised will go to help
approximately 300 military families across America. Last year, Heroes at
Home raised more than $4 million.
"Looking back on our first year working with Rebuilding Together on
this important initiative, we've been both proud and humbled," said W.
Bruce Johnson, interim CEO and President, Sears Holdings. "With the help of
our customers who have so generously supported Heroes at Home, we are
privileged to assist the heroic military men and women and their families."
The Memorial Day Kick Off
Heroes at Home will honor U.S. Army veteran Christopher Joseph of Long
Island, at an event at his home on May 21. Christopher, his wife Barbara
and daughter Zuwena, live in a two-story house in need of major repairs.
Through Heroes at Home, various repairs will be made to their home
including a new roof, bathroom modifications, window and door repairs, and
heating system repairs at no cost to the family.
"This means so much to me and my family," said Christopher Joseph. "We
are so grateful to see that people care so much about veterans and that
help is available."
ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition personality Paige Hemmis, is
joining Sears Holdings to raise awareness for the retailer's longstanding
commitment to military families. "I'm honored to be a part of the Heroes at
Home program," said Hemmis. "Through this program, we will work together to
make a difference in the lives of military families such as the Joseph's."
To find out more about Heroes at Home or to refer a military family or
veteran to the program, visit http://www.sears.com or call 1-800-473-4229.
Sears Holdings' ongoing commitment to assisting troops and their families
includes several recruiting and employment programs. The company offers a
military pay differential to employees serving in the armed forces.
Additionally, reservists who are employed full-time are allowed to continue
participating in life insurance, medical and dental programs. If you make a
cash donation to Heroes at Home 100% of your donation will benefit
Rebuilding Together, a 501 (c) (3) organization. Your entire cash donation
is eligible for tax deduction treatment for U.S. Federal tax purposes.
About Sears Holdings Corporation
Sears Holdings Corporation (Nasdaq: SHLD) is the nation's fourth
largest broadline retailer with over $50 billion in annual revenues and
approximately 3,800 full-line and specialty retail stores in the United
States and Canada. Sears Holdings is the leading home appliance retailer as
well as a leader in tools, lawn and garden, home electronics and automotive
repair and maintenance. Key proprietary brands include Kenmore, Craftsman
and DieHard, and a broad apparel offering, including such well-known labels
as Lands' End, Jaclyn Smith and Joe Boxer, as well as the Apostrophe and
Covington brands. It also has Martha Stewart Everyday products, which are
offered exclusively in the U.S. by Kmart and in Canada by Sears Canada. The
company is the nation's largest provider of home services, with more than
13 million service calls made annually. For more information, visit Sears
Holdings' website at http://www.searsholdings.com.
About Rebuilding Together
Rebuilding Together is the nation's largest nonprofit organization
working to preserve homeownership and revitalize neighborhoods by providing
free home repair and modification services to those in need. With the help
of everyday citizen volunteers, skilled trades people, the support of local
business and major corporate partners, Rebuilding Together affiliates in
America's largest cities and smallest towns make life considerably better
for thousands of low-income homeowners. Beyond its core home repair work,
Rebuilding Together also rehabilitates community centers and conducts home
modification and repair programs that focus on aging in place. In addition,
Rebuilding Together has programs dedicated to energy efficiency, veteran's
housing, and disaster recovery and reconstruction. Rebuilding Together is
currently celebrating 20 years as a national organization and the
completion of over 100,000 homes thanks to the efforts of more than 200
affiliates nationwide. For more information, visit
http://www.RebuildingTogether.org.
SOURCE Sears Holdings Corporation
Web site: http://www.sears.com http://www.searsholdings.com
http://www.RebuildingTogether.org
CONTACT: Elizabeth Schupp Baxter of Euro RSCG Worldwide PR,
+1-212-367-6875, for Sears Holdings Corporation; or Brenda Storch
of Sears Holdings, +1-847-286-2897, +1-224-735-9579; or Becky
Carter of Rebuilding Together, +1-202-518-3500
