Donations to the Stewart’s Holiday Match
\nprogram set a new record in its 28th season,
\nraising funds which will help support hundreds
\nof local children’s charities year round, company
\nofficials said.<\/p>\n
From Thanksgiving Day through Christmas
\nDay, Stewart’s customers donated over
\n$770,000 to the program, which is then doubled
\nto more than $1.5 million with the Stewart’s
\nmatch.<\/p>\n
The company said the result was made
\npossible by the generosity of customers, many
\nregularly giving their spare change and others
\nwho contributed larger gifts, as well as the hard
\nwork of Stewart’s partners and support from
\nmedia partners.<\/p>\n
“Each year our customers meet the challenge
\nof raising more funds for children’s
\ncharities,” said Stewart’s Foundation President
\nSusan Dake. “We are so grateful to our
\ncustomers for their generosity and loyalty to
\nStewart’s Shops.”<\/p>\n
The amount raised was a 15 percent increase
\nin customer donations compared to the past
\ntwo years, where $1.34 million was raised. The
\nprevious Holiday Match record was set in 2011, with $1.39 million.<\/p>\n
After this year’s funds have been distributed,
\nthe Stewart’s Holiday Match program will
\nhave allocated more than $20 million since
\nthe program’s inception in 1986, according to
\nthe company.<\/p>\n
Donations are collected at all 331 Stewart’s
\nShops in upstate New York and western Vermont.
\nStewart’s then matches all individual
\ncustomer donations. There are no administrative
\ncosts and 100 percent of the funds collected
\nand matched benefit children’s organizations
\ndirectly within the communities where
\nStewart’s Shops are located.<\/p>\n
Those funds will be allocated in March.
\nChildren’s charities can still apply for
\nfunding from the program. Applications are
\navailable at all Stewart’s Shops or online at
\nstewartsshops.com.<\/p>\n
Applications must be submitted or postmarked
\nby Jan. 31 to be considered for funding.
\nAll groups applying must be locally based, benefit
\nchildren under 18, and be a qualified, charitable
\n501c3 organization. A brochure listing charities
\nthat received funding last year is available at any
\nshop or at stewartsshops.com.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Donations to the Stewart’s Holiday Match program set a new record in its 28th season, raising funds which will help support hundreds of local children’s charities year round, company officials said. From Thanksgiving Day through Christmas Day, Stewart’s customers donated…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":121,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[57,60,102],"class_list":["post-16131","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-business-news","tag-business-news","tag-charity","tag-ny-state"],"yoast_head":"\r\n