Bon-Ton's Spring Goodwill® Sale Collected Nearly 4 Million Pounds of Clothing and Textiles to Support Goodwill's Job Training Programs

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Apr 18, 2011, 12:41 ET

ROCKVILLE, Md., April 18, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Goodwill® Sale, a partnership between The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ: BONT) and Goodwill Industries International, has collected 3.8 million pounds of donations. Consumers donated gently used clothing and textiles to support the job training programs, skills training and community-based services that Goodwill agencies provide in their local communities.

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The most recent Bon-Ton Goodwill Sale took place from March 9-23, 2011 at Bon-Ton stores in 23 states in the Northeast, Midwest and Upper Great Plains. Bon-Ton, which operates stores under the Bon-Ton, Bergner's, Boston Store, Carson Pirie Scott, Elder-Beerman, Herberger's, Younkers and Parisian nameplates, received donations for Goodwill at its 275 stores. Goodwill sold those donations in its retail stores and the revenues were used to fund programs that give people the skills they need to enter the workforce, including people with disabilities, those who lack education or job experience and others facing challenges to finding employment.

"The Goodwill Sale is playing an important role in helping people in the communities where we operate," said Bud Bergren, president and CEO of The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. "Investing in the economic engine of our local communities is important to our culture."

Nearly 60 Goodwill agencies participated in the partnership and distributed approximately 2 million discount coupons to generous donors, who received 15 – 20 percent off of merchandise at Bon-Ton stores. Donors also had the opportunity to share their donation on the Million Acts of Goodwill website, where they could access an exclusive 25 percent-off coupon and a chance to win a trip to New York to see Live! with Regis and Kelly.

"The donations from the community have enabled Goodwill to raise an estimated 17 million dollars to benefit Goodwill's mission of helping people find jobs and strengthen their families and communities," said Jim Gibbons, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries International. "We are truly thankful for the generosity of Bon-Ton customers and will put that support to good use by providing the services people need to build fulfilling careers."

The Goodwill Sale takes place twice a year — each spring and fall season. Since 1994, the Goodwill Sale cause-marketing collaboration has helped generate an estimated potential value of $135 million in revenue to support Goodwill's employment placement services and other support services for people with disadvantages to finding employment.

About Goodwill Industries International

Goodwill Industries International is a network of 165 community-based agencies in the United States and Canada with 14 affiliates in 13 other countries. Goodwill is one of North America's top five most valuable and recognized nonprofit brands as well as a leading social services enterprise (Source: Cone Nonprofit Power Brand 100, 2009). Goodwill operates more than 2,500 stores and the first and only nonprofit Internet auction site, shopgoodwill.com. Local Goodwill agencies also build revenue and create jobs by contracting with businesses and government to provide a wide range of commercial services, including packaging and assembly, food service preparation, and document imaging and shredding. Last year, more than 2.4 million people in the United States and Canada benefited from Goodwill's career services. Goodwill channels 84 percent of its revenues directly into its programs and services. To find a Goodwill location near you, use the online locator at www.goodwill.org, or call (800) 741-0186. Twitter: @GoodwillIntl. Facebook: GoodwillIntl.

About the Bon-Ton Stores

The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc., with corporate headquarters in York, Pennsylvania and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, operates 275 department stores, which include 11 furniture galleries, in 23 states in the Northeast, Midwest and upper Great Plains under the Bon-Ton, Bergner's, Boston Store, Carson Pirie Scott, Elder-Beerman, Herberger's and Younkers nameplates and, in the Detroit, MI, area, under the Parisian nameplate. The stores offer a broad assortment of national and private brand fashion apparel and accessories for women, men and children, as well as cosmetics and home furnishings. The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. is an active and positive participant in the communities it serves. The Goodwill Sale event is long-standing charitable partnership the Company developed to support and build strong communities. For further information, please visit the investor relations section of the Company's web site at http://investors.bonton.com. Twitter: @thebonton. Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Bonton

SOURCE Goodwill Industries International