HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill., May 27, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As a result of its partnership with the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores, Inc. (Nasdaq:SHOS) made a check presentation on May 2 to the NVFC for the $200,616 its stores raised during a charitable holiday campaign this past November and December.
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The objective of the "Salute to Local Heroes" campaign was to provide fire and EMS departments across the nation with critical funds to improve resources in areas where the local heroes need it most.
"We launched this effort with a sole mission: to raise awareness and dollars for firehouses across the country to fund needed equipment, training, and programs," said David Buckley, chief marketing officer of Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores. "As a truly hometown focused company, we believe there is nothing more worthy for Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores to support than those who serve our community."
Through the Salute to Local Heroes campaign, Sears Hometown Stores, Sears Home Appliance Showrooms, Sears Appliance & Hardware Stores and Sears Outlet customers, licensed dealers, franchisees and company employees were able to donate funds that would go directly to local first responders while making a purchase. In addition, $2 from each Craftsman® Bottle Cap Wrench purchased throughout the campaign was added to the fund for the local departments.
"The Salute to Local Heroes campaign was a fantastic way for a company to give back to the local first responders who serve its communities," said Philip C. Stittleburg, chairman of the NVFC. "We thank Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores for launching this innovative fundraising program to support local volunteer departments. With the funds raised through this campaign, we were able to make a donation to more than 1,100 local fire and EMS departments, helping them to buy the necessary training and equipment they need so they can more effectively protect their communities."
All funds donated through the Salute to Local Heroes program went directly to volunteer first responders in each stores' local communities. Recipients were able to use the funds to purchase or provide a variety of necessities for their departments, including: protective gear/rescue equipment, certifications and training, assistance and family support for injured responders, building maintenance and refurbishments, recruitment programs, and other needed resources and programs.
"For us, the effort is personal," said Buckley. "I'm proud to say the ranks of past and current firefighters include some of our store owners and franchisees. We look forward to continuing the partnership and doing what we can to ensure the safety of our communities and the lives of these local heroes."
In addition to the funds raised at the store level, Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores and its corporate employees donated $18,000 to support the NVFC and its efforts in helping firefighters nationwide. The company plans to partner with local first responders again in 2014 to extend its reach even further in local communities. Plans for the campaign extension will be released later this year.
About Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores, Inc.
Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores, Inc. (Nasdaq:SHOS) is a national retailer primarily focused on selling home appliances, lawn and garden equipment, tools and hardware. As of February 1, 2014, Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores, Inc. and its dealers and franchisees operated 1,260 stores across all 50 states as well as in Puerto Rico and Bermuda.
In addition to merchandise, Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores, Inc. provide consumers with access to a full suite of services, including home delivery, installation and extended service contracts.
Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores, Inc. operates through two segments—the Sears Hometown and Hardware segment and the Sears Outlet segment. The Sears Hometown and Hardware segment's stores are designed to provide customers with in-store and online access to a wide selection of national brands of home appliances, lawn and garden equipment, tools, sporting goods and household goods, depending on the particular store. The Sears Outlet stores are designed to provide customers with in-store and online access to purchase new, one-of-a-kind, out-of-carton, discontinued, obsolete, used, reconditioned, overstocked and scratched and dented products across a broad assortment of merchandise categories, including home appliances, apparel, mattresses, sporting goods, tools and lawn and garden equipment at prices that are significantly lower than manufacturers' suggested list prices.
For more information contact: Peter Verniere, Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores, at 847-286-5061 or Peter.Verniere@shos.com or visit our corporate website at www.shos.com.
About National Volunteer Fire Council
The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) is the leading nonprofit membership association representing the interests of the volunteer fire, EMS, and rescue services. The NVFC serves as the unified voice of the volunteer in the national arena and provides invaluable tools, resources, programs, and advocacy for first responders across the nation. For more information about the NVFC visit www.nvfc.org/.
