Rebuilding Together, Sears Holdings to Improve Lives of Military Families at Home
Another 70 families to receive support through Heroes at Home(SM) on National Rebuilding Day
Sears Holdings Corporation will celebrate National Rebuilding Day on April 26 by helping to launch an additional 70 home renovation projects to benefit military families in need through Heroes at Home. The initiative is a joint effort with the national non-profit Rebuilding Together. Through Heroes at Home, Sears Holdings seeks to improve the lives of military families in need across America by making necessary repairs, improvements or modifications to their homes.
On National Rebuilding Day, a celebration spearheaded by Rebuilding Together, thousands of volunteers across the country will help improve the homes of low-income Americans at no cost. The 70 new families assisted through Heroes at Home are among the hundreds that will continue to be served throughout the year with the nearly $4 million raised for this cause by Sears customers and associates in 2007.
Among the beneficiaries of National Rebuilding Day are U.S. Army veteran Gary Shehan of Peoria, IL, and Lawrence (Ray) Clark of Portland, OR. Gary Shehan served his hometown of Peoria as a firefighter for 29 years. Now that Gary has retired due to health reasons, his union brothers and sisters will join Heroes at Home to help Gary and his family to make the repairs that he can no longer make on his own.
"This is another example of the power of collaboration between corporations and non-profits," said Gary A. Officer, President and CEO of Rebuilding Together. "Heroes at Home is a wonderful opportunity for the public to participate or contribute directly to programs that assist those who need our help most."
Ray Clark and his wife Dina have always been involved in their community. Dina volunteers for the Red Cross, and Ray, both a military policeman and an infantryman during his time in service, now coaches his two daughters' softball teams despite his health condition. The community is now to giving back to the Clarks -- on April 26, Heroes at Home will make critical repairs to the home in which this family has lived with their four children for 15 years.
ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition personality Paige Hemmis, and Eric Stromer, DIY expert and host of HGTV's "Over Your Head," are 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 Clark's and the Ryan's." "We hope everyone out there embraces this opportunity to change the lives of other heroes who, like these families, have made such sacrifices for our country," added Stromer.
"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 men and women in the military."
Additionally, this year, Hershey's has joined the effort, by offering special packages of Hershey's products at Kmart and by committing to make a donation of $100,000 to Heroes at Home, (notwithstanding of the amount of products sold). The next fundraising drive for Heroes at Home will begin on May 22 at Sears and Sears.com. To find out more about Heroes at Home or to refer a military family or veteran to the program, visit 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(SM) 100% of your donation will benefit Rebuilding Together, a 501 (c) (3) organization. Your entire cash donation is eligible for tax deduction treatment for US 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 .
About Rebuilding Together and National Rebuilding Day
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 .
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SOURCE: Sears Holdings Corporation
CONTACT: Elizabeth Schupp Baxter of Euro RSCG Worldwide PR,
+1-212-367-6922; or Brenda Storch of Sears Holdings, +1-847-286-2897, or
+1-224-735-9579; or Becky Carter of Rebuilding Together, +1-202-518-3500
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