Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores Raises Nearly $1M for Make-A-Wish®

National Retailer’s 2015 Campaign for Make-A-Wish Helps Grant Wishes for Children With Life-Threatening Medical Conditions


HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill., Feb. 01, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ:SHOS) reported today that its Sears Hometown Store, Sears Outlet Store, Sears Home Appliance Showroom and Sears Appliance & Hardware locations nationwide raised $986,291 for Make-A-Wish® during its 2015 “Season of Wishes” holiday campaign. The charitable program, which ran from Nov. 2 - Jan. 15, encouraged customers to make incremental donations of $2, $5 or $10 through various incentive promotions to support the wish-granting organization.

The funds raised allow Make-A-Wish to help more children with life-threatening medical conditions experience the powerful impact of a wish-come-true. Throughout its 2015 partnership with the organization, Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores raised more than $1.4 million for Make-A-Wish, helping to grant nearly 150 wishes.

“We believe a wish is a powerful force in helping children with life-threatening medical conditions and we are so thankful to everyone who supported our efforts and donated to this amazing cause,” said Will Powell, Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores, Inc. Chief Executive Officer, President. “Together, we’re making a life-changing difference in so many families’ lives.”

In 2014, the Company’s campaign for Make-A-Wish raised more than $500,000. It plans to support Make-A-Wish again in 2016 to continue helping grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions. Plans for the next campaign will be released later in the year.

David Williams, president and CEO of Make-A-Wish America, said, “With every event we hold and every donation given, we’re shining some brightness into the lives of children diagnosed with life-threatening medical conditions and their families. To achieve our goal of granting the wish of every eligible child, we need support of companies like Sears Hometown and Outlet stores and we are grateful they make it a priority to give back to their communities. 

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 October 31, 2015, Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores, Inc. and its dealers and franchisees operated 1,172 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 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 28,000 volunteers, Make-A-Wish grants a wish somewhere in the country every 35 minutes. It has granted more than 270,000 wishes since its inception in 1980; more than 14,800 in 2015 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