Kmart Corporation Teams with U.S. Marine Corps to Bring Holiday Cheer To Children Throughout U.S.
2001 Marks First Year as Toys for Tots National Retail Sponsor
Kmart Corporation (NYSE: KM) is partnering with the U.S. Marines to bring holiday cheer to children in local communities nationwide through the annual U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Campaign.
Kmart is the national retail sponsor of the 2001 Toys for Tots campaign as part of a new holiday outreach initiative for its more than 2,100 stores across the country. The company kicked-off this first-time partnership by making a $25,000 corporate contribution to the holiday toy drive.
As part of its Leaders in Learning focus supporting traditional and non-traditional education initiatives, Kmart is asking its customers and associates to "give the gift of learning" and donate educational toys or books to the Toys for Tots campaign.
Kmart stores will have two opportunities to actively support children in their local communities through Toys for Tots. They are encouraged to establish in-store toy collection sites, and may spend their existing holiday community giving budgets to purchase books or educational toys to donate to the campaign.
Additionally, BlueLight.com will encourage its more than five million online customers to participate in Toys for Tots and "give the gift of learning."
"Being part of the Marines' Toys for Tots campaign is one more opportunity for Kmart to promote education and support our local communities," said Charles C. Conaway, Kmart Chairman and CEO. "It is important that donated toys are distributed to children in the communities where Kmart associates and customers live and work."
The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Campaign is the Marine Corps' premier community action program and one of the nation's flagship Christmas charitable causes. Over the years, it has become a traditional part of the annual Christmas holiday season within communities nationwide. The message of hope delivered through a shiny new toy at Christmas has a positive impact on children, their families and their communities. It's not the toy -- it's what the toy does. Over the past 53 years, the U.S. Marines have distributed nearly 272 million toys to 133 million needy children throughout the nation.
Kmart Corporation is a near-$40 billion company that serves all 50 states, the Caribbean Islands and Asia Pacific with more than 2,100 Kmart and Kmart SuperCenter retail outlets. Kmart gives back to the communities it serves through Leaders in Learning, an aggressive corporate giving and community outreach initiative focused on supporting diverse education programs and promoting lifelong learning. Kmart associates also provide their most valuable resource -- time -- every day in their local communities. More information about Kmart is available at the company's e-commerce shopping site under the "About Kmart" section.
SOURCE: Kmart Corporation
Contact: Dawn Orzel, Senior Community Relations Specialist of Kmart
Corporation, +1-248-463-6262
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