Deadline Nears to Help Fulfill Troops' Wishes
American Forces Press Service
In consultation with the Defense Department, Sears has expanded the
popular program, enabling America to fulfill holiday wishes for up to
20,000 servicemembers and their families.
HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill., Oct. 30, 2008 –
The deadline is tomorrow for servicemembers to apply for the Sears
“Heroes at Home Wish Registry.”
Military
personnel can log on to www.sears.com/wish through tomorrow to apply
for the Wish Registry. Between Nov. 2 and Dec. 25, Sears will invite
America to help fulfill their wishes with a Sears gift card.
“Since
1916, Sears has been committed to America’s servicemen and women with
programs to employ veterans, reserve pay differential and benefits for
full-time associates called up for active duty,” said Don Hamblen,
chief marketing officer for the retailer. “Last year, Sears launched
Heroes at Home to help military personnel renovate and rebuild their
homes. Today, we are pleased to expand the Heroes at Home Wish Registry
to incorporate elements to make the wishes of our military come true
for the holidays and enable our customers provide a direct ‘thank you’
to members of the military.”
The first 20,000 servicemembers
who apply and can be validated with an active duty military status can
become part of the Wish Registry. Active service personnel who
participate will remain anonymous to ensure compliance with the
military’s standards of conduct regulations.
Ultimately, all
20,000 registrants will be granted Sears gift cards in equal amounts,
which will be determined based on the number of entries and donations.
The gift card denominations will not exceed $550, officials said.
Sears
officials said they created the Wish Registry to thank servicemembers
and their families at home and abroad for their service. Sears worked
with the United Service Organizations to help communicate the Wish
Registry to military members, and will make a $250,000 donation to
support USO programs and services around the world.
“The
Heroes at Home Wish Registry allows us to connect with the military
community on a very personal level, and gives Americans the opportunity
to fulfill their wishes,” said Bill Kiss, divisional vice president of
program development for Sears Holdings Corporations. “It’s an extremely
powerful program, with the potential to produce extremely meaningful
results.”
The program starts with the Sears family, not just
their customers, officials said, noting that the first donations the
registry received were from Sears associates, senior executives and
vendors featured at the retailer.
The Heroes at Home program
also provides support to servicemembers, veterans and their families
through joint efforts with various nonprofit organizations. Sears
Holdings has spearheaded nationwide fundraising efforts in the spring
and holiday seasons over the past year, officials said, and has raised
more than $5 million through the Heroes at Home program for Rebuilding
Together, a nonprofit organization that rehabilitates homes.
(From a Sears news release.)
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