Sears Holiday Fundraiser to Grant Wishes for Military Families

Sears Holiday Fundraiser to Grant Wishes for Military Families
MarketWatch - USA
Joint Effort With Rebuilding Together to Improve Lives of Military Families at Home

Last update: 3:36 p.m. EST Dec. 3, 2008
WASHINGTON, DC, Dec 03, 2008 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX) -- Rebuilding Together is pleased to once again join Sears in supporting America's military veterans and families. Sears customers will be able to turn their shopping into dreams come true for military families and veterans. The retailer recently launched an in store and online fundraising effort to benefit Heroes at Home(SM), a charitable program created in association with the nation's leading non-profit home rehabilitation organization, Rebuilding Together. Through Heroes at Home, the retailer seeks to improve the lives of military families and veterans in need across America by making necessary repairs, improvements or modifications to their homes.
Now through December 28, Sears customers will be able to participate in this initiative by using their Sears card or purchasing a Sears gift card. Sears will make a donation to Heroes at Home for every credit card purchase made at any of its Sears stores from now to December 28 up to $1 million, and for every gift card purchased during that time up to $100,000. Customers can also make a donation at registers or online at www.sears.com. Heroes at Home has raised more than $5 million to help military families in need across America by making necessary repairs, improvements or modifications to their homes.
"We are proud to be partnering with Rebuilding Together to support families through this important initiative," said Richard Gerstein, Chief Marketing Officer, for Sears Holdings Corporation. "Sears has a longstanding commitment to the heroic men and women who serve in the military. We hope our customers will take this opportunity to help grant wishes for military families and veterans while they shop our stores."
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Sears resolves rule violation in gift program in Heroes at Home Wish Registry

Sears resolves rule violation in gift program

By Karen Jowers - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Oct 24, 2008 10:11:21 EDT

The more than 10,000 military families who registered for the Sears “Heroes at Home Wish Registry” will be able to get their gift cards without violating Defense Department ethics violations, under an agreement reached late Thursday between Sears and defense officials.

Sears has also extended the registration period to Oct. 31, and will allow up to 20,000 service members to register, said Sears spokesman Tom Aiello.

The company has made adjustments in the program, such as expanding it to all active-duty members, including activated Guard and Reserve members. All ranks are now eligible, expanding it from the previous limitation to E-6 and below. Sears will validate the status of the service members with the Defense Department’s help.

Before the changes, the Defense Department warned Sears that the program violated ethics laws and asked it to stop registering service members.
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http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/10/military_sears_wishregistry_102308w/

Sears gift registry for troops violates rules

Well now this really stinks! Sears is trying to do a good thing for the men and women serving in the military and the military wants to stop them. Makes no sense at all. I really doubt Sears needs to advertise using the troops and only wanted to use some in uniform for this program alone. Don't they understand that the people of this country want to help the troops and the veterans as much as possible?

Sears gift registry for troops violates rules

By Karen Jowers - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Oct 23, 2008 19:27:17 EDT

Defense officials have notified Sears that troops will not be able to participate in their “Heroes at Home Wish Registry” because they would be violating ethics regulations.

On Oct. 23, Sears Holding Corporation officials said they are working with defense officials to resolve the issue. “Sears is committed to supporting these military families and will not waver in that support,” said spokesman Tom Aiello.

Sears’ gift registry matches donations from the public with military members who registered for gifts at Sears.com through Sept. 28.

“After reviewing the available details of the Wish Registry, we determined that, as structured, participation in the Wish Registry results in an improper solicitation,” Leigh Bradley, director of the Standards of Conduct Office for the Defense Department General Counsel, said in an Oct. 14 letter to Sears.
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http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/10/military_sears_wishregistry_102308w/