Round Up Purchases at JCPenneys for Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta
100 Percent of Donations Raised at JCPenney will BenefitMarch 18, 2010
From March 24 – April 6, shoppers at the JCPenney in Douglasville, Morrow, Fayetteville, Lithonia or Kennesaw are invited to “round-up” their purchases to the nearest whole dollar and donate the difference to Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta to support quality afterschool programs in their community. JCPenney has partnered with BGCMA to provide children in need with access to life-enriching afterschool programs that foster their academic, physical and social development.
“The availability of affordable afterschool programs continues to be an important community objective in order to meet the needs of working families,” said William Lampley, president of BGCMA. “As customers shop for the Easter season, we hope they will keep our mission in mind by rounding-up their purchases to benefit a local cause.” All funds raised from JCPenney’s “Round-up” campaign will make it possible for more local youth to participate in BGCMA’s afterschool programming.
Recent studies show that more than a quarter of America’s school children are on their own between the hours of 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. each day.* More parents seek the resources to enroll their children in a beneficial afterschool program that help kids develop social skills, provide opportunities to be physically active and achieve academic success in school. JCPenney’s continuing support and commitment to the afterschool cause and has made it possible more children to participate in positive afterschool environments nationwide.
About Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta
Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta operates 27 Clubs in 11 metro counties in addition to Camp Kiwanis and Youth Art Connection, a gallery and workspace for young artists. A trained and professional staff serves more than 17,000 disadvantaged youth through programs that foster academic success, healthy lifestyles and good character and citizenship. The cost of providing services to a member for a year is $1000, but in order to effectively serve those who need us most, BGCMA asks families to pay annual membership dues of only $35 per child and no child is turned away due to inability to pay. For more information, please visit www.bgcma.org
About JCPenney’s Commitment to Afterschool
As the leading corporate advocate for the afterschool issue, JCPenney works to increase opportunities offered by afterschool programs in order to empower our nation’s children with the tools they need to succeed in life. Through its legacy of supporting youth and charitable organizations such as the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, YMCA of the USA, National 4-H, United Way and FIRST, JCPenney formalized its commitment to the afterschool issue by making it the Company’s signature cause in 1999. Since its inception, more than $80 million has been distributed to afterschool programs in every JCPenney community thereby making it possible for more kids to participate in life-enriching programs that inspire them to be smart, strong and socially responsible. For more information, visit www.jcpenneyafterschool.org.
* Data from Afterschool Alliance 2009 report America After 3PM, commissioned by JCPenney Afterschool, is the most in-depth study of how America’s children spend their afternoons.
