Borders(R) Steps Up Support of Local Communities -- Schools, Organizations Can Now Earn up to 30% of Sales from 'Benefit Days' Fundraisers

ANN ARBOR, Mich., May 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Borders is deepening its support of schools and teachers as school districts nationwide contend with some of the deepest budget cuts in decades. Today Borders is introducing its newly revamped "Benefit Days" fundraising program, where participating schools will receive a credit of as much as 30% of their total net sales -- money that can be used to purchase classroom supplies or augment a school library. The new Borders "Benefit Days" program, in which libraries, nonprofits and charitable organizations can also participate, is one of the most generous fundraising programs in the book industry --  and is one of many examples of how Borders gives back to the communities it serves.

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Benefit Days: Spend More, Earn More

Borders restructured its "Benefit Days" program in a tiered format to encourage greater contributions to schools.  Now, the more a customer who shops on behalf of a school or organization spends in-store or online at Borders.com, the greater the percentage of sales Borders will donate to the organization. The following is a full breakdown of earnings schools and organizations can now receive:

• 10% of sales up to $1,500
• 15% of sales over $1,500 up to $5,000
• 20% of sales over $5,000 up to $20,000
• 25% of sales over $20,000

In addition, if a school or organization chooses to receive its earnings in the form of Borders gift cards, it will earn an additional 5% on sales. Under the previous "Benefit Days" program, customers who shopped on behalf of a school or organization earned 10% off nearly all purchases and the organization in turn received a flat 10% contribution regardless of the level of sales.

Everyday In-store Discount of 25%

The newly improved "Benefit Days" program is just one of many ways Borders supports teachers and schools. The retailer also provides pre-k through grade 12 educators with an everyday in-store discount of 25% off books and supplies for classroom use.

To take advantage of the everyday classroom discount, teachers need only present their Classroom Discount Card. The card is free and available at Borders and Waldenbooks stores nationwide. In addition, teachers who are members of the free Borders Rewards^® loyalty program can earn $5 in "Borders Bucks" for every $150 in annual qualifying purchases --  whether the items are for classroom use or items they purchase for their own enjoyment. Consumers can pick up a free Borders Rewards card at any store and enroll in the program at the point of purchase by simply providing the cashier with a valid e-mail address.

National Teacher Registry

In another show of support for teachers, Borders recently announced it is the exclusive book retailer for the nation's only free National Teacher Registry (NTR) at www.nationalteacherregistry.com. The NTR -- the first of its kind -- works much like a traditional gift registry where teachers create a registry of items they need and want for their classrooms. Borders will provide for NTR a variety of books including fiction and non-fiction titles, educational workbooks, curriculum development books and inspirational narratives as well as DVDs and CDs that are perfect for classroom use. Borders will begin conducting transactions on the site in the coming months.

Educator Appreciation Weeks

Twice yearly Borders hosts Educator Appreciation Week, a special week set aside just for teachers, librarians, administrators and others in the education profession to enjoy 30% off nearly everything in store. These events also find teachers enjoying a special reception, raffles, giveaways, special in-store activities and more.

About Borders Group, Inc.

Headquartered in Ann Arbor, Mich., through its subsidiaries Borders Group, Inc. (NYSE: BGP) is a leading specialty retailer of books as well as other educational and entertainment items. The company employs approximately 19,500 throughout the U.S., primarily in its Borders^® and Waldenbooks^® stores. Online shopping is offered through borders.com. Find author interviews and vibrant discussions of the products we and our customers are passionate about online at facebook.com/borders, twitter.com/borders and youtube.com/bordersmedia. For more information about the company, visit borders.com/media.

SOURCE Borders