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 over
$770,000 to the program, which is then doubled
to more than $1.5 million with the Stewart’s
match.
The company said the result was made
possible by the generosity of customers, many
regularly giving their spare change and others
who contributed larger gifts, as well as the hard
work of Stewart’s partners and support from
media partners.
“Each year our customers meet the challenge
of raising more funds for children’s
charities,” said Stewart’s Foundation President
Susan Dake. “We are so grateful to our
customers for their generosity and loyalty to
Stewart’s Shops.”
The amount raised was a 15 percent increase
in customer donations compared to the past
two years, where $1.34 million was raised. The
previous Holiday Match record was set in 2011, with $1.39 million.
After this year’s funds have been distributed,
the Stewart’s Holiday Match program will
have allocated more than $20 million since
the program’s inception in 1986, according to
the company.
Donations are collected at all 331 Stewart’s
Shops in upstate New York and western Vermont.
Stewart’s then matches all individual
customer donations. There are no administrative
costs and 100 percent of the funds collected
and matched benefit children’s organizations
directly within the communities where
Stewart’s Shops are located.
Those funds will be allocated in March.
Children’s charities can still apply for
funding from the program. Applications are
available at all Stewart’s Shops or online at
stewartsshops.com.
Applications must be submitted or postmarked
by Jan. 31 to be considered for funding.
All groups applying must be locally based, benefit
children under 18, and be a qualified, charitable
501c3 organization. A brochure listing charities
that received funding last year is available at any
shop or at stewartsshops.com.