Sears Hometown and Outlet Store Formats Raise Over $500,000 for Make-A-Wish(R)

National Retailer Concludes 2014 Campaign for Make-A-Wish to Help Grant Wishes for Children With Life-Threatening Medical Conditions


HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill., Feb. 26, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores, Inc. (Nasdaq:SHOS) announced today that its Sears Outlet Stores, Sears Appliance & Hardware Stores and Sears Home Appliance Showrooms nationwide raised $522,029 for Make-A-Wish® during the 2014 holiday season. The charitable program, which ran from Nov. 2–Dec. 31, encouraged customers to make incremental donations of $2, $5 or $10 through various incentive promotions to support the wish granting organization.

The funds raised will allow Make-A-Wish to help more children with life-threatening medical conditions experience the powerful, and oftentimes, life-changing impact of a wish come true.

"We have been so humbled by the generosity of our customers nationwide who were able to share their good fortune to help improve the lives of wish kids," said Will Powell, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores, Inc. "The funds raised by our retail communities will impact the great efforts of Make-A-Wish, granting the one true wish for children who truly deserve it."

David Williams, President and CEO of Make-A-Wish America, said, "We are grateful that Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores and its customers recognize and understand the ability a wish has to make life better for wish kids and their families throughout the country. Alliances like this give us the ability to move closer to our vision of one day granting the wish of every eligible child."

Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores plans to support Make-A-Wish again in 2015 to continue helping to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions. Plans for the next campaign will be released later in the year.

About Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores, Inc.

Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores, Inc. (Nasdaq:SHOS) is a national retailer primarily focused on selling home appliances, lawn and garden equipment, tools and hardware. As of November 1, 2014, Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores, Inc. and its dealers and franchisees operated 1,257 stores across all 50 states as well as in Puerto Rico and Bermuda.

In addition to merchandise, Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores, Inc. provides consumers with access to a full suite of services, including home delivery, installation and extended service contracts.

Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores, Inc. operates through two segments—the Sears Hometown and Hardware segment and the Sears Outlet segment. The Sears Hometown and Hardware segment's stores are designed to provide customers with in-store and online access to a wide selection of national brands of home appliances, lawn and garden equipment, tools, sporting goods and household goods, depending on the particular store. The Sears Outlet stores are designed to provide customers with in-store and online access to purchase new, one-of-a-kind, out-of-carton, discontinued, reconditioned, overstocked and scratched and dented products across a broad assortment of merchandise categories, including home appliances, apparel, mattresses, sporting goods, tools and lawn and garden equipment at prices that are significantly lower than manufacturers' suggested list prices.

About Make-A-Wish

Make-A-Wish grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. According to a 2011 U.S. study of wish impact, most health professionals surveyed believe a wish-come-true has positive impacts on the health of children. Kids say wishes give them renewed strength to fight their illness, and their parents say these experiences help strengthen the entire family. Headquartered in Phoenix, Make-A-Wish is one of the world's leading children's charities, serving children in every community in the United States and its territories. With the help of generous donors and more than 27,000 volunteers, Make-A-Wish grants a wish somewhere in the country every 37 minutes. It has granted more than 254,000 wishes since its inception in 1980; more than 14,200 in 2014 alone. Visit Make-A-Wish at www.wish.org to learn more.

For more information contact: Jayne Levy, Fishman Public Relations, at (847) 945-1300 or jlevy@fishmanpr.com or visit the corporate website at www.shos.com.