Sears Hometown and Outlets and NVFC Partner to Raise Over $200K for Volunteer Fire & EMS Departments

May 12, 2014

Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores, Inc., partnered with the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) in November and December 2013 to raise money for local volunteer fire and EMS departments through the “Salute to Local Heroes” holiday campaign. At the NVFC’s board meeting on May 2, Sears Hometown and Outlets made a check presentation to the NVFC for the $200,616 raised during the campaign to support local departments.

Sears Hometown and Outlet CMO David Buckley (right) presents NVFC Chairman Philip C. Stittleburg with a check as part of the Salute to Local Heroes campaign. The funds have already been distributed to local fire and EMS departments.

“We launched this effort with a sole mission: To raise awareness and dollars for firehouses across the country to fund needed equipment, training, and programs,” said David Buckley, Chief Marketing Officer of Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores. “As a truly hometown focused company, we believe there is nothing more worthy for Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores to support than serving those who serve our community.”

Through the Salute to Local Heroes campaign, Sears Hometown Stores, Sears Home Appliance Showrooms, Sears Appliance & Hardware Stores, and Sears Outlet customers, licensed dealers, franchisees, and company employees were able to donate funds that would go directly to local first responders while making a purchase. In addition, $2 from each Craftsman® Bottle Cap Wrench purchased throughout the campaign was added to the fund for the local departments.

“The Salute to Local Heroes campaign was a fantastic way for a company to give back to the local first responders who serve its communities,” said NVFC Chairman Philip C. Stittleburg. “We thank Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores for launching this innovative fundraising program to support local volunteer departments. With the funds raised through this campaign, we were able to make a donation to over 1,100 local fire and EMS departments, helping them to buy the necessary training and equipment they need so they can more effectively protect their communities.”

100% of the funds raised through the Salute to Local Heroes program went directly to local departments in communities that have Sears Hometown and Outlet stores. These funds have already been distributed. Sears Hometown and Outlets Stores partnered with the NVFC to raise awareness of the campaign and the needs of the fire and emergency services as well as to distribute the funds to the local departments.

“For us the effort is personal,” said Buckley. “I’m proud to say the ranks of past and current and firefighters include our store owners and franchisees. We look forward to continuing the partnership and doing what we can to ensure the safety of our communities and the lives of these local heroes.”

About Sears Hometown and Outlets Stores, Inc.
Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores, Inc. operates through two segments – the Sears Hometown and Hardware segment and the Sears Outlet segment. The Sears Hometown and Hardware segment’s stores provide customers with in-store and online access to a wide selection of national brands of home appliances, lawn and garden equipment, tools, sporting goods, and household goods, depending on the particular store. The Sears Outlet stores provide customers with in-store and online access to purchase new, one-of-a-kind, out-of-carton, discontinued, reconditioned, overstocked, and cosmetically damaged products across a broad assortment of merchandise categories, including home appliances, apparel, mattresses, sporting goods, tools, and lawn and garden equipment at prices that are significantly lower than manufacturers’ suggested list prices. Learn more at www.shos.com.

About National Volunteer Fire Council
The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) is the leading nonprofit membership association representing the interests of the volunteer fire, EMS, and rescue services. The NVFC serves as the unified voice of the volunteer in the national arena and provides invaluable tools, resources, training, programs, and advocacy for first responders across the nation. Learn more at www.nvfc.org.