Kmart, Best Buy lift St. Jude's campaign
Kmart and Best Buy are among the retailers that helped St. Jude’s Hospital raise more than $100 million for the second year in a row.
Kmart led all fundraising for St. Jude’s once again at $17.5 million, bringing its grand total to date to $76 million. Best Buy saw its campaign increase from nearly $1 million in 2013 to $9.7 million.
"As a result of our amazing corporate partners, generous donors and celebrity friends, the St. Jude Thanks and Giving campaign has raised an incredible $587 million since it began in 2004," said Marlo Thomas, outreach director for St. Jude's. "The support we receive allows our doctors and scientists to continue our lifesaving work and also allows us to keep my father's founding promise that no family ever pays St. Jude for anything -- not for treatment, travel, housing or food. That's because we believe all a family should worry about is helping their child live. At St. Jude we will never stop searching for the cures that will save the lives of children everywhere."
This past holiday season, more than 70 of America's leading companies and brands including Kmart, Best Buy, Domino's, ANN INC., Kay Jewelers, HomeGoods, Williams-Sonoma, Inc., New York & Company, AutoZone and Brooks Brothers as well as new partners Chili's Grill & Bar, Mazda, The Limited and many more joined together in asking shoppers to support St. Jude through in-store and e-commerce initiatives, specialty merchandise and social media engagement. Kmart was the top fundraising partner for the sixth consecutive year.
"Kmart's long history of success in supporting charitable causes is due to the generosity of our Shop Your Way members, customers and associates," said Alasdair James, president and chief member officer at Kmart. "We're proud of the impact our results have made for the families of St. Jude and thankful to St. Jude for its tireless work to defeat cancer and other diseases in children. St. Jude made holiday shopping at Kmart more rewarding and we're excited to support an organization that clearly means so much to our members."
Best Buy saw its total jump by nearly $9 million as a result of extending its campaign and implementing a donation ask with its credit card pin pad. Domino's, a partner since 2004, had a record-breaking year raising more than $5.2 million. Domino's continued to integrate St. Jude throughout its website and asked customers to make a donation during the ordering process.
In addition to Kmart, Best Buy and Domino's, several partners raised more than $2 million during the 2014 St. Jude Thanks and Giving campaign, including:
ANN INC. - $4.6 million through Ann Taylor, LOFT, Ann Taylor Factory and LOFT Outlet stores
Williams-Sonoma, Inc. - $3.9 million
New York & Company - $2.9 million
GNC - $2.7 million
AutoZone - $2.6 million
Brooks Brothers - $2.3 million
Dollar General - $2.1 million