WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.,
July 20, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/
-- Kmart's Shop Your Way® members, customers and associates --
with the help of celebrity fitness icon and Kmart ambassador
Jillian Michaels – continued its
status as the #1 corporate contributor to the March of Dimes by
raising more than $9 million in 2015.
The money supports research and community programs to help prevent
premature birth – the number one killer of babies.
Jillian Michaels, whose
activewear line IMPACT is sold at Kmart stores, led 20,000
walkers in the Los Angeles March
for Babies event at Exposition Park on April 26. Hundreds of
Kmart associates participated in March for Babies events
coast-to-cost, including Alasdair
James, President & Chief Member Officer at Kmart, who
walked with 12-year-old Elijah
Jackson, the 2015 National Ambassador for the March of Dimes
at Grant Park in Chicago.
"Those of us within the Kmart family have great admiration for
Elijah and all families coping with the early birth of their
child," said Alasdair. "Helping babies and families like the
Jackson's clearly resonates with our members and associates, and
personally, I'm touched to be part of the March for Babies
fundraiser. For more than 32 years, Kmart has proudly supported the
March of Dimes ongoing efforts to fund education programs and
research initiatives that can help more babies receive the healthy
start in life they deserve."
Elijah and his parents, Elise and Todd
Jackson, are traveling the country this year telling their
story to raise awareness of the problem of premature
birth. Elijah shared this inspiring video message with Team
Kmart after visiting with President Obama earlier this year.
Kmart's annual fundraising campaigns have raised more than
$134 million in support of the March
of Dimes work over the past three decades - more than any other
corporation. Kmart raised funds at checkout at every Kmart
location, online via a link at www.kmart.com/marchofdimes, and
through the sales of an exclusive collectible puppy figurine, which
contributed $1 to the March of Dimes
with every purchase through June
20.
"Kmart continues to be the standard of success for
philanthropy," said Dr. Jennifer L.
Howse, president of the March of Dimes. "With Kmart's
support, premature birth has been decreasing for seven consecutive
years and we have helped give more than 231,000 babies a healthy,
full-term start in life. Kmart's partnership supports the March of
Dimes nationwide network of five Prematurity Research Centers where
hundreds of scientists who now are working together to discover the
unknown causes of premature birth. We are truly grateful to
everyone at Kmart for their remarkable contributions to this
effort."
About Kmart
Kmart, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sears
Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ: SHLD), is a mass merchandising
company and part of Shop Your Way, a social shopping experience
where members have the ability to earn points and receive benefits
across a wide variety of physical and digital formats through
ShopYourWay.com. Kmart offers customers quality products through a
portfolio of exclusive brands that include Jaclyn Smith, Joe
Boxer, Route 66 and Smart Sense. For more information
visit the company's website at www.kmart.com | Sears Holdings
Corporation website at www.searsholdings.com | Facebook:
www.facebook.com/kmart.
About the March of Dimes
The March of Dimes works to
improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature
birth and infant mortality. The March of Dimes is the leading
nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. For more than
75 years, moms and babies have benefited from March of Dimes
research, education, vaccines, and breakthroughs. For the latest
resources and information, visit marchofdimes.org or nacersano.org.
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SOURCE March of Dimes