PLANO, Texas, Nov. 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- jcpenney today
announced the launch of its nationwide Holiday Giving Tour.
Beginning on #GivingTuesday on Nov.
27, the retailer will embark on a 12-day tour throughout
the U.S., carrying out special acts of generosity in
a new city each day. From Christmas tree lighting and ice
skating to Santas and tobogganing, jcpenney will bring a touch of
Christmas cheer to cities across the country through simple, humble
acts of generosity that pay homage to classic American holiday
traditions.
(Logo:
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110222/DA51975LOGO)
The tour will kick off on 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
celebrated urban winter wonderland, Citi
PondSM at Bryant Park. The tour will conclude on
Dec. 8 in Los Angeles with a free exclusive, acoustic
holiday concert outside a jcpenney store, performed by the reigning
CMA Entertainer of the Year and ACM and CMA Male Vocalist of the
Year, Blake Shelton. All events will
be shared on jcpenney's Facebook, Twitter and YouTube pages.
"As a company founded on the Golden Rule, jcpenney has a strong
legacy of giving back. As we embark on our exciting transformation,
we realize becoming America's favorite store isn't just about the
shopping experience we offer our customers – it's also about what
we do to support the communities in which we live and work," said
Miki Woodard, jcp cares president
and vice president of philanthropy at jcpenney. "The holidays are a
time of generosity and giving and we look forward to sharing this
holiday spirit through our Holiday Giving Tour by surprising
America with acts of generosity across the country."
jcp Teams Up with #GivingTuesday
As a founding partner of #GivingTuesday, jcpenney joins the
nationwide movement on Nov. 27, the
first day of the jcp Holiday Giving Tour. The #GivingTuesday
initiative unites families, communities, companies and individuals
to inspire Americans to join in acts of giving and celebrate our
country's great tradition of generosity.
jcpenney stores will also be providing acts of generosity to
customers throughout the holiday season by distributing collectible
holiday buttons featuring one of 50 classic designs and
holiday expressions. A unique code on the back of each button will
offer customers a chance to win one of millions of gifts
including great American vacations, tickets to The
Ellen DeGeneres Show, jcp merchandise, gift cards, and
more. Along with its event in Bryant Park, jcpenney will also be
celebrating #GivingTuesday by donating one
dollar to The Salvation Army – up to $100,000 – for every jcpenney holiday button
redeemed at www.jcp.com/christmas on Nov. 27.
Small Change, Big Difference
The jcp Holiday Giving Tour builds on jcpenney's philanthropic
efforts this season. Through its charitable giving program, jcp
cares, jcpenney is making it possible for customers to give back.
From Nov. 23 to Dec. 31, customers
can support The Salvation Army by rounding up their store purchases
to the nearest dollar and donating the difference to the
organization's Red Kettle Campaign. With nearly 25,000 bell ringers
at store fronts and shopping malls nationwide, this annual campaign
helps to provide meals, clothing and toys to families who need it
most. The Salvation Army's iconic red kettle is featured as one of
jcpenney's button designs to signify the importance of their
mission in communities across the country.
jcp Holiday Giving Tour Schedule:
- Nov. 27: New York, NY- In partnership with
#GivingTuesday, New Yorkers will enjoy a complimentary performance
by John Legend followed by free ice skating, skate rentals and hot
chocolate throughout the afternoon at CitiPond at Bryant Park.
- Nov. 28: Langhorne, Pa. – Lumberjacks will
distribute complimentary firewood outside jcpenney's Oxford Valley
Mall store.
- Nov. 29: Orlando, Fla. – jcpenney will replace toll
booth attendants with Santas. For every toll paid, jcpenney will
match with a donation to The Salvation Army up to $10,000.
- Nov. 30: Knoxville, Tenn. – A miniature
jcpenney-branded blimp will drop small gifts to unsuspecting
pedestrians in Market Square.
- Dec. 1: Dallas, TX – Residents of warm-weather
Dallas will get a chance to sled
down a customized tobogganing hill at Flagpole Hill park.
- Dec. 2: New Orleans,
La. – The local jcpenney store at Oakwood Shoping Center
will surprise residents by turning their parking lot into an ice
skating rink.
- Dec. 3: Chicago, Ill. – Warming up the Windy City,
a cashmere-clad Santa will hand out jcp cashmere scarves, hats and
more in downtown Chicago.
- Dec. 4: Alamosa, Colo. – The small town will
receive a fully decorated, Rockefeller Center-sized Christmas tree
and lighting ceremony.
- Dec. 5: Kemmerer, Wyo. – Home of jcp's first
"Golden Rule" store, jcpenney will take over the local town car
wash. Without having to get out of their cars that
morning, the residents of Kemmerer
can drive through a tented elf-staffed assembly line receiving hot
cider or coffee, a $10 jcp gift card,
a breakfast burrito from a local restaurant, and a car wash by
jolly Santas.
- Dec. 6: Portland, Ore. – A local artist will
create a beautiful pointillism portrait made out of hundreds of
live poinsettias outside Pioneer Courthouse Square and at the end
of the day, residents will be invited to take them home.
- Dec. 7: Phoenix, Ariz. – A team of helpful "elves"
will offer complimentary valet service at the Paradise Valley jcpenney store to alleviate
any stress around holiday shopping parking.
- Dec. 8: Los Angeles, Calif. – Blake Shelton will give an exclusive, acoustic
holiday performance outside the jcpenney store at Westfield Culver
City.
For images and additional media assets, please visit
jcpmediaroom.com. Follow @jcpnews on Twitter for company
information and exclusive announcements throughout the holiday
season.
jcpenney media relations:
Kate
Coultas and Daphne Avila
972-431-3400; jcpcorpcomm@jcp.com
PMK-BNC
Beth
Andrews / Katie Harris-Maines
310-854-4800
beth.andrews@pmkbnc.com / katie.harris@pmkbnc.com
About jcpenney
More than a century ago, James Cash
Penney founded his company on the principle of the Golden
Rule: treat others the way you'd like to be treated – Fair and
Square. His legacy continues to this day, as J. C. Penney Company,
Inc. (NYSE: JCP) boldly transforms the retail experience across
1,100 stores and jcp.com to become America's favorite store.
Focused on making the customer experience better every day,
jcpenney is dreaming up new ways to make customers love shopping
again. On every visit, customers will discover great prices every
day in a unique Shops environment that features exceptionally
curated merchandise, a dynamic presentation and unmatched customer
service. For more information, visit us at jcp.com.
About The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal
Christian church established in 1865, has been supporting those in
need in His name without discrimination for more than 130 years in
the United States. Nearly 30
million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each
year through the broadest array of social services that range from
providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims,
assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill,
clothing and shelter to the homeless and opportunities for
underprivileged children. 82 cents of
every dollar spent is used to support those services in 5,000
communities nationwide. For more information, go to
www.SalvationArmyUSA.org.
About #GivingTuesday
#GivingTuesday is harnessing the power of social media to create
a national movement around the holidays that is dedicated to
giving. The #GivingTuesday movement is inspiring people to take
collaborative action to improve their local communities, to give
back in better, smarter ways to the charities and causes they
celebrate and to help create a better world. It will begin with a
national day of giving on November 27,
2012. #GivingTuesday is a first-of-its-kind effort to
harnesses the collective power of a unique blend of
partners—charities, families, businesses and individuals—to
transform how people think about, talk about and participate in the
giving season. For more information, go to
www.givingtuesday.org.
SOURCE jcpenney