JCPenney raises $100M through Afterschool charity

PLANO, Texas JCPenney announced that since 1999 it has donated more than $100 million in scholarships and grants through its charity, JCPenney Afterschool.

“This $100 million milestone is significant because it represents the afterschool opportunities we made possible in every JCPenney community over the past decade,” said Mike Theilmann, group EVP JCPenney and chairman of the JCPenney Afterschool Fund. “It is only fitting that we use this occasion to celebrate and recognize our community champions, including our afterschool partners whose programs inspire kids to be smart, strong and socially responsible.”

Through two online voting initiatives, a total of $500,000 will be distributed to four national afterschool organizations: Boys & Girls Clubs of America, The Y, National 4-H and FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology). The winning afterschool organization with the most votes after four weeks will receive $250,000, second place $150,000, third place $75,000 and fourth place $25,000.