Sears and Kmart Have a Heart for Military Families
Stores Join Forces to Help Injured Servicemen and Women and Their Families
This Valentine's season, Sears and Kmart customers will lend a hand and a heart to military families. The retailers have joined forces with Fisher House, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing "a home away from home" for injured military members and their families. The Sears and Kmart "Have a Heart for Military Families" initiative will provide customers with an opportunity to assist families of injured servicemen and women by making a donation to Fisher House at any of its stores and online.
The need to help those injured in action seems greater than ever. According to the Department of Defense, the number of U.S. wounded service members is now more than 24,000.
"Our partnership with Sears and Kmart comes at a critical time for our organization," said David A. Coker, President, Fisher House Foundation. "Our 37 Fisher Houses were home to more than 10,000 service members and their families in 2006, and the need for additional homes is urgent. We plan to build 21 additional Fisher Houses, primarily to assist combat casualties and their families, so the support from Sears, Kmart and their customers is timely and needed."
"We are proud to be partnering with Fisher House," said Aylwin Lewis, president and CEO of Sears Holdings Corporation. "Sears and Kmart have a longstanding commitment to those in the military and we feel privileged to be assisting the troops and their families through this initiative. We know our customers will take this opportunity to open their hearts to help military families stay close to their loved ones when they need it most."
Customers are encouraged to make a donation at a Sears or Kmart store or at or from February 9 through 11.
Sears and Kmart also assist troops and their families through several recruiting and employment programs. Both retailers offer a military pay differential to their employees, which allows reservists who are employed full-time to continue participating in life insurance, medical and dental programs. Additionally, Sears and Kmart hold a comparable position for these individuals for up to five years.
About Sears Holdings Corporation
Sears Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ: SHLD) is the nation's third largest broadline retailer, with approximately $55 billion in annual revenues, and with 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 .
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CONTACT: Brenda Storch, Sears Holdings Corporation, +1-847-286-2897, or
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