Stewart's Holiday Match Raises $1.26 Million

Retailer also contributes to World Awareness Children's Museum Jan. 08, 2010

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. -- Stewart's Shops' Holiday Match program completed its 23rd year of collecting donations for local children's charities with a record dollar amount. The company announced that Stewart's customers contributed $630,000 between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Stewart's Shops is matching that amount, for a total of $1.26 million to be distributed to local children's charitable organizations in Spring 2010.

"We are thrilled to have finished the drive up over 10% from last year, set a record for Holiday Match, and to soon donate the money back into the communities [image-nocss] we serve. Our customers, shop partners and media partners have surpassed everyone's expectations," said Susan Dake, Stewart's Foundation president.

The Holiday Match program relies on customers making contributions in the 327 Stewart's Shops located in upstate New York and western Vermont from Thanksgiving Day through Christmas Day. The money raised benefits children's organizations directly within the communities where Stewart's Shops are located. There are no administrative costs, and 100% of the funds collected and matched benefit the communities that have made this program so successful. After this year's funds are distributed, more than $13 million will have been allocated since the program's inception in 1986.

The $630,000 that Stewart's is matching is just over a quarter of the $2.25 million donations budget for Stewart's Shops in 2010. "Last year we were able to help thousands of organizations by contributing $2.25 million back into our communities. We are already seeing a high level of requests for assistance. We will continue to mirror our company theme, 'We are Closer to You'," Dake said.

Children's charities can still apply for funding from the Holiday Match Program. Applications are available in all Stewart's Shops or online at www.stewartsshops.com. Applications must be postmarked by Jan. 31, 2010, to be considered for funding.

Media sponsors included Capital News 9/Time Warner Cable, B95.5, Froggy 107.1, WNYF Fox 28, WWNY 7 News, Big Frog 104, Lite 98.7, WIBX, Froggy 97, Z93, WPDH 101.5, Mix 97, The Wolf 94.3, and WKNY 1490am

Meanwhile, Stewart's Shops recently made a donation to the World Awareness Children's Museum in Glens Falls, N.Y. to help fund the expansion of the facilities.

Members help make our journalism possible. Become a CSP member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.