Belk Spring Charity Sale Raises More Than $4.5 Million For Nonprofits

CHARLOTTE, N.C., May 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Belk, Inc. announced today that its semi-annual Belk Charity Sale raised more than $4.5 million for hundreds of local charities, schools and nonprofit organizations located throughout the company's 16-state market area.

In return for a $5 donation, customers received a ticket admitting them to the Charity Sale on May 1 that entitled them to merchandise discounts ranging from 20 to 70 percent on Belk purchases. Customers also received $5 off their first purchase of $5 or more at the event, and Belk cardholders received double Rewards points, and Belk Elite cardholders triple Rewards points, for card purchases.

Participating local charities sold the Charity Sale tickets in advance of the event with proceeds from each $5 ticket sold retained by the charity. Proceeds from tickets sold at Belk stores prior to and during the event were divided among the participating charities and schools in each location.

"The Charity Sale is a great opportunity for Belk to support and give back to its communities each season," said Tim Belk, chairman and CEO of Belk, Inc. "It's uplifting to see how many participated in this season's Charity Sale, especially during this difficult economic time, and to acknowledge that as a result of our customer's generosity, a total of $4.5 million will benefit nonprofit organizations and charitable causes throughout the South."

The Charity Sale supported nonprofits such as The United Way, Meals on Wheels, Regional Junior League Associations, Boy & Girl Scouts of America, Sickle Cell Disease Association, animal rescue organizations, local school athletic and scholastic organizations and numerous local churches.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society – Alabama/Gulf Coast Chapter in Birmingham, Ala., also participated in Belk's Spring Charity Sale. "Having a partner like Belk in our fight against blood cancers is a big plus," said Jeanie McKay, patient services manager. "With their support, we are able to educate the public about the society and our mission, and raise funds to support our programs and research efforts."

Belk's next Charity Sale is slated for Saturday, November 6, 2010.

About Belk, Inc.

Charlotte, N.C.-based Belk, Inc. is the nation's largest privately owned mainline department store company. It operates more than 300 Belk stores located in 16 Southern states. The company was founded in 1888 by William Henry Belk in Monroe, N.C., and is in the third generation of Belk family leadership. Its Belk.com Web site (www.belk.com) is designed with many special features to make online shopping exciting, convenient and easy for customers. It offers a wide assortment of fashion apparel, shoes and accessories for the entire family along with top name cosmetics, a wedding registry and a large selection of quality merchandise for the home.

SOURCE Belk, Inc.