Cause Marketing/ Community Programs

Plano, Texas -- J.C. Penney said Tuesday it has launched its nationwide Holiday Giving Tour, which entails a 12-day giving spree during which the retailer carries out acts of generosity in a new city each day.

Events include Christmas tree lighting, ice skating, Santa visits and tobogganing.
 
The tour kicks off Nov. 27 with a live holiday performance by Grammy Award-winning artist John Legend, followed by free ice skating, skate rentals and hot chocolate in Manhattan's Citi Pond at Bryant Park.

Abysmal sales at J.C. Penney haven’t deterred the company from pursuing a series of unique cause marketing activities around a potential new holiday tradition focused on giving back.

Mississauga, Ontario -- Target will sponsor a tour across Canada that will visit more than 20 communities ahead of the planned opening of its stores in the country, the retailer said Tuesday.

The tour will start in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and conclude in British Columbia in the middle of December. Target plans to open 124 stores in Canada starting in March and April 2013.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Mars will receive the 2012 NASCAR Marketing Achievement Award at the NASCAR NMPA Myers Brothers Awards held at Encore at Wynn Las Vegas Thursday, Nov. 29.

ATLANTA — Coca-Cola has seen strong progress toward its goal to place 5 million women entrepreneurs across the Coca-Cola value chain by 2020 and plans to expand its initiative.

Called the 5by20 initiative, the program launched originally in four pilot countries: Brazil, India, South Africa and the Philippines. Coca-Cola plans to broaden its scope to a total of 12 countries, adding China, Costa Rica, Egypt, Haiti, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria and Thailand. By the end of 2012, 5by20 will reach 300,000 women.

BANNOCKBURN, Ill. — Italian food company Barilla has partnered with the U.S. Ski Team's Mikaela Shiffrin, who will don the Barilla logo on her helmet.

The 17-year-old recently secured third place at the slalom in Levi, Finland, and is considered a serious contender for the World Cup Nov. 24, in Aspen, Colo., as well as the 2014 Olympic games to be held in Sochi, Russia.

NORWICH, N.Y. — Chobani founder Hamdi Ulukaya has won the Ernst & Young National Entrepreneur of the Year 2012 Retail and Consumer Products Award. Ulukaya was also awarded the Ernst & Young National Entrepreneur of the Year 2012 Overall Award.

The Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award encourages entrepreneurial activity and recognizes leaders and visionaries who demonstrate innovation, financial success and personal commitment as they create and build world-class businesses.

Some of the biggest names in the retail and consumer packaged goods industry were recognized by the American Cancer Society with 2012 Excellence in Philanthropy Awards.