HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill.,
June 6, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- As
the top corporate fundraiser for the March of Dimes, Kmart is
leading the charge for another year of donations by calling on its
Shop Your Way members and shoppers to join the fight and be a
superhero for at-risk moms and babies. The funds raised by Kmart
will help support teams of scientists who are working to discover
the unknown causes of premature birth and develop innovative
treatments.
"As a mom of triplets born five weeks premature, March of Dimes
is a cause that is very close to my heart," says Kelly Cook, chief marketing officer for Kmart.
"Kmart is so proud of our relationship with this organization that
fights for the health of mothers and their babies. We are
privileged to bring March of Dimes closer to our members and
shoppers."
This year, Kmart is embarking on its 33rd consecutive year of
supporting the March of Dimes through the heroic support of its
associates, members and customers, and there is still time to give.
Kmart is encouraging shoppers to visit their local Kmart store on
Saturday, June 11, for a very special
Freebie Saturday featuring a purple superhero mask. Superheroes are
encouraged to snap a photo and share it socially with
#LIFEISRIDICULOUSLYAWESOME and #SUPERHERO4BABIES to inspire others
to give. Shoppers can also help spread the word by sharing the
official March of Dimes Kmart Freebie Saturday: June
11th- Masks YouTube video calling all superheroes to
step forward.
"Thanks to Kmart we are able to serve moms and babies in
communities across the country," says Dr. Jennifer L. Howse, president of the March of
Dimes. "The superhero efforts from the entire Kmart team and its
shoppers will allow us to fund cutting-edge research, provide
community programs and advocate to give all babies a fighting
chance."
To date, Kmart has raised nearly $140
million to help advance the critical work being done by
March of Dimes on behalf of all babies. These efforts have helped
reduce the premature birth rate from an all-time high in 2006.
However, for the first time in eight years, the national preterm
birth rate has increased rather than decreased. And many
communities continue to suffer from the tragic and costly
consequences of double-digit rates of premature birth. Donations
can help moms and babies by:
- Providing funds to a network of researchers working to prevent
premature birth
- Providing the best information on healthy pregnancy and
delivery
- Advocating for better healthcare coverage for the most
vulnerable
- Fighting for better newborn screening standards in every
state
- Helping moms to overcome substance abuse with community
outreach programs
- Increasing access to prenatal care with mobile clinics and
transportation to doctors
- Educating generations of parents on the value of
vaccination
Now through June 18, shoppers can
show their superpowers at Kmart by donating to the March of Dimes
at checkout in-store or online at
http://www.kmart.com/en_us/dap/Kmart-and-March-of-Dimes.html.
About Kmart
Kmart is making shopping fun again. The
retailer, a subsidiary of Sears Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ:
SHLD), is bringing back the iconic Bluelight Specials, hosting
Freebie Saturdays and in-store family events for its Shop Your Way
members and customers. Kmart offers customers thrilling deals and
amazing finds on quality products and exclusive brands including
Jaclyn Smith, Joe Boxer, Route 66 and Smart Sense.
About March of Dimes
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 health information, visit our
websites marchofdimes.org and nacersano.org. To participate in our
annual signature fundraising event, visit
marchforbabies.org. If you have been affected by prematurity
or birth defects, visit our shareyourstory.org community to find
comfort and support. For detailed national, state and local
perinatal statistics, visit persistats.org. You can also find us on
Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
MEDIA
CONTACTS:
|
|
Sara Weitz
|
Andrea
Abate
|
Kmart
|
Zeno Group for
Kmart
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847-286-0774
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312-527-2SHC
(2742)
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Sara.Weitz@searshc.com
|
Andrea.Abate@zenogroup.com
|
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SOURCE Kmart