Burlington Coat Factory Shares the Warmth by Raising Nearly $3MM to Help Beat Cancer

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Jan 03, 2012, 02:59 ET

BURLINGTON, N.J., Jan. 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Burlington Coat Factory, a national off price retailer, just completed another record-breaking year in its decade-long partnership with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) through its Light The Night® Walk campaign.

Burlington, LLS's top fundraising Light The Night Walk corporate partner, raised close to $3 million this year to support LLS's lifesaving cancer research programs and patient education and support services. Most of the funds were raised through a company-wide initiative where its customers purchased paper balloon icons at the retailer's more than 462 locations all across the country to support LLS and its mission. Additionally, Burlington's employees participated in 120 Light The Night Walk teams in 78 different cities throughout the country.

Light The Night Walk is LLS's evening walk held in communities across North America each fall to honor and commemorate lives touched by cancer and raise funds for cancer research and patient services.

Over the ten years of this partnership, Burlington has raised approximately $13 million to help advance cancer research and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. Each year, from August through November, the retailer lines its store walls with the paper balloon icons, symbolizing individual customer donations to the cause and, visually demonstrating their support of LLS's mission.

"The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is extremely grateful to Burlington Coat Factory, its employees and customers, who are helping to make a difference in the lives of so many patients and their families through this initiative," said John Walter, LLS President and CEO.

"Volunteerism and community giving have long been part of the Burlington Coat Factory legacy, and we are delighted to have such a significant and rich history with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society," said Thomas Kingsbury, president and chief executive officer. "From in-store sales of our iconic paper balloons to nationwide employee participation, we are honored to have made such a profound impact on those affected by blood cancers."

About Burlington Coat Factory
Burlington Coat Factory is a national retail chain offering brag-worthy merchandise for the entire family and the home with up to 60 percent off department store prices every day. Departments include ladies' sportswear, menswear, family footwear, children's clothing, furniture and accessories for baby at Baby Depot, home decor and gifts, along with the largest selection of coats in the nation for the entire family. Burlington Coat Factory was founded in 1972 and has expanded from a single store selling coats, to a multi-department retail chain with more than 462 stores in 44 States and Puerto Rico. In 2006, Bain Capital purchased Burlington Coat Factory. For more, visit www.BurlingtonCoatFactory.com.

About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society®(LLS) is the world's largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer. The LLS mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world and provides free information and support services.

Founded in 1949 and headquartered in White Plains, NY, LLS has chapters throughout the United States and Canada. To learn more, visit www.LLS.org or contact the Information Resource Center at (800) 955-4572, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET. www.lls.org.

For LLS Contact:
Andrea Greif
914-821-8958
[email protected]

For Burlington Contact:
Chelsea Cowan
212-251-1204
[email protected]

SOURCE The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society