Sears Responds to Hurricane Charley With $750,000 in Merchandise, Funding Donation
Donation Provides Immediate, Direct Assistance to Affected Families, Communities
Sears, Roebuck and Co. (NYSE: S), through its Sears American Dream Campaign, is partnering with United Way of Florida and Kids in Distressed Situations (K.I.D.S.) to assist the storm-ravaged Florida communities impacted by Hurricane Charley last weekend. Sears' merchandise and funding contribution will go toward cleanup and rebuilding efforts for the families, homes and communities impacted by the disaster.
"After such a devastating storm, the residents of Florida need all the help they can get to start re-establishing their homes and cleaning up their communities," said Gary Salvatore, Southeast Region Vice President for Sears' full-line stores. "We're pleased to lend our support as rebuilding and recovery efforts begin."
In response to the Governor's request, this $750,000 merchandise and funding contribution -- which will provide direct and immediate assistance to the affected communities -- consists of the following:
-- Sears is providing $225,000 in children's apparel, Lands' End is
providing $200,000 in men's and women's apparel and Sears stores
located in Miami, Orlando and Tampa are providing $200,000 to go
toward relief efforts.
-- Sears is providing United Way of Florida with $100,000 worth of gift
cards so impacted families can purchase items needed to rebuild.
Families will be identified by United Way of Florida as part of their
disaster response and recovery efforts, which includes working with a
vast network of community-based human services agencies and volunteer
centers to mobilize resources and minimize human suffering.
-- Sears and its vendor-partners are donating socks, sleepwear and
undergarments for impacted residents along with rakes, shovels and
supplies for relief workers valued at $25,000.
-- Sears associates and retirees are volunteering in the neighborhoods
and assisting in the sorting and distribution of donated clothing.
Sears' disaster relief plan has been activated for associates impacted
by Hurricane Charley.
The Sears American Dream Campaign is a $100 million community commitment to strengthen families, homes and communities. For more information visit the Web site at http://www.searsamericandream.com/ .
K.I.D.S., Inc. is a national charity that distributes donated juvenile products, clothes, toys, shoes, beds, books, art supplies and other children's products to non-profit agencies. These agencies work with children living in poverty stricken communities, homeless shelters, hospitals, AIDS clinics and relief organizations within the United States and abroad. Throughout its existence, K.I.D.S. has donated more than $350 million worth of new merchandise to children in need.
United Way of Florida, based in Tallahassee, is the voluntary state association for 30 local United Ways in the state that works to measurably improve Florida communities as places to live and do business through statewide initiatives, partnerships and advocacy. There are approximately 1,400 independent, community-based United Way organizations in the U.S. Each is separately incorporated and governed by local volunteers. United Way of America is the national organization dedicated to leading the United Way movement in making a measurable impact in every community across America. For more United Way information visit http://www.unitedway.org/ .
Sears, Roebuck and Co. is a leading broadline retailer providing merchandise and related services. With revenues in 2003 of $41.1 billion, the company offers its wide range of home merchandise, apparel and automotive products and services through more than 2,300 Sears-branded and affiliated stores in the U.S. and Canada, which includes approximately 870 full-line and 1,100 specialty stores in the U.S.
Sears also offers a variety of merchandise and services through sears.com, landsend.com, and specialty catalogs. Sears is the only retailer where consumers can find each of the Kenmore, Craftsman, DieHard and Lands' End brands together -- among the most trusted and preferred brands in the U.S. The company is the largest provider of product repair services with more than 14 million service calls made annually.
SOURCE: Sears, Roebuck and Co.
CONTACT: Cheryl Ann Lambert of Sears, Roebuck and Co., +1-847-286-4714,
or Ted Granger of United Way of Florida, +1-850-488-8276
Web site: http://www.sears.com/
http://www.searsamericandream.com/
http://www.unitedway.org/