Belk gives $21.5M to communities
Belk’s efforts on community involvement received a boost in 2015, as the company reported that it donated more than $21.5 million to local communities last year.
Of the total amount, Belk corporate dollars funded $6.1 million to more than 250 nonprofit organizations, with a focus on education, breast cancer research and awareness, and community strengthening, the company said. The remainder of the funding includes associate, vendor and customer dollars raised in Belk-led charitable events, including the Belk Charity Sale.
"Belk was founded with an emphasis on community involvement and giving back to the local areas it serves. That philosophy of giving continues to ring true today, and remains one of our company's core values," said Jessica Graham, Belk vice president of communications and community relations. "We are thankful to have customers and associates that help us live out this mission through their contributions, which allows us to reach more people and leave a lasting mark."
Key impacts of Belk's giving in fiscal year 2015 include:
In its second year, the Belk Mobile Mammography Center screened more than 3,000 women throughout the South, bringing the total number of women screened to more than 7,400 since the program launch in 2013. The Center has detected 36 cases of cancer over the two years of the program.
Belk's first holiday fundraising campaign, Angel Days, raised more than $304,000 to local Title 1 schools.
Belk's first Charity Bear, designed by a 9 year old customer, raised $15,000 for the ASPCA.
Key gifts in fiscal year 2015 include:
More than $12 million in customer dollars to more than 6,000 local charities through Belk's semi-annual Charity Sale.
More than $1.6 million, including corporate and associate dollars, to local United Way chapters across Belk's 16-state footprint.
More than $415,000 to Susan G. Komen, which includes corporate, associate and customer dollars to fund breast cancer research and awareness efforts across the Belk footprint.
More than $390,000, including customer and associate contributions, to the American Heart Association.
Charlotte, N.C.-based Belk Inc. is the nation's largest family owned and operated department store company with 297 Belk stores located in 16 Southern states.