JCPenney 'rounds up' $1.3M for afterschool programs

PLANO, Texas JCPenney announced that it has contributed $500,000 in matching funds to the more than $840,000 donated by customers to provide a total of more than $1.3 million for grants to afterschool programs in JCPenney markets.

During the 10-day Afterschool Round-up campaign in April, JCPenney customers had the opportunity to "round up" their JCPenney purchases to the nearest whole dollar and donate the difference to the non-profit JCPenney Afterschool Fund. One hundred percent of the donations collected at each store will be used to support afterschool programs in the store's local community, providing customers an opportunity to help children and families in their own hometowns.

"I am inspired by the collective generosity of JCPenney customers," said Mike Theilmann, chief human resources and administration officer for JCPenney and chairman of the JCPenney Afterschool Fund. "By donating just a little with each purchase, our customers are dramatically impacting the lives of children in their own communities by sponsoring them in quality afterschool programs that keep them safe and foster their academic, physical and social development."