Kmart and March of Dimes: Three Decades of Commitment to Health of Babies and Kids

Latin America - español

News provided by

Jul 18, 2012, 10:35 ET

Retail Giant Has Raised More Than $106 Million to Help Give Every Baby a Healthy Start

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., July 18, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- For nearly 30 years, Kmart customers and associates have been helping to improve the health of babies in partnership with the March of Dimes, the leading nonprofit for mom and baby health.

Today, Kmart is the March of Dimes longest-tenured corporate supporter and in 2012 raised $8 million to benefit the organization's work to give all babies a healthy start in life. This brings the retail giant's total contribution throughout the partnership to a staggering $106 million.

Kmart, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sears Holdings, says it has made working on behalf of the health and wellness of children a company-wide effort involving management, associates and customers throughout all their in-store activities and events. The connection with the March of Dimes has become quite personal.

Krista Allan, a Sears Holdings employee, gave birth three-and-one-half months early to twins, Colton and Keltie, each weighing less than two pounds. They spent more than 3 months in the newborn intensive care unit (NICU) of the hospital, overcoming several life-threatening challenges, Ms. Allan says. "They're my miracle babies. I'm so proud to work for a company that supports the March of Dimes. Because of that support, this year I was able to celebrate my first Mother's Day and I thank the March of Dimes from the bottom of my heart," says Ms. Allan.

"Being able to count on the steady concern, and caring commitment of Kmart associates and customers over the years has allowed the March of Dimes to fund real breakthroughs in research and other programs to improve the health of moms and newborns," says Dr. Jennifer L. Howse, president of the March of Dimes.

As the March of Dimes' longest-standing corporate supporter, Kmart has participated in programs that have helped the nation achieve a 6 percent decline in the premature birth rate from 2006 to 2010, helping to spare thousands of babies from prematurity and its consequences. However, Dr. Howse notes, about half a million babies still are born prematurely each year, proving that there is still much work to be done.

Earlier this year, the March of Dimes recognized Kmart for its dedication and reaching the $100 million fundraising milestone by creating a $1 million grant in the company's name to support transdisciplinary research into premature birth. The grant will fund studies by scientists from many different fields working together to investigate promising areas including maternal genetic biomarkers, placental function and genetics, and the patterns of preterm births in the U.S., among others.

For the 20th consecutive year, Kmart also was a national sponsor of the annual March for Babies®, which took place in nearly 750 communities across the country this spring.

About Kmart

Kmart, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sears Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ: SHLD), is a mass merchandising company and part of ShopYourWay, a social shopping experience where members have the ability to earn points and receive benefits across a wide variety of physical and digital formats through ShopYourWay.com. Kmart offers customers quality products through a portfolio of exclusive brands that include Sofia by Sofia Vergara, Jaclyn Smith, Joe Boxer, Route 66 and Smart Sense. For more information visit the company's website at www.kmart.com |Sears Holdings Corporation website at www.searsholdings.com.| Facebook: www.facebook.com/kmart

About March of Dimes

The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide and its premier event, March for Babies, the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.com or nacersano.org. Find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

SOURCE March of Dimes