Retailers Make Good Neighbors

In keeping with the generosity and community commitment of the families that founded these regional department stores, Rich's-Macy's along with its parent company Federated Department Stores, has a long-standing tradition of giving back to the communities they serve. The areas of philanthropic concentration are: United Way, women's health issues, children and education, HIV & AIDS prevention and education.

In 1989 Rich's-Macy's launched an employee led volunteer program Partners In Time which quickly became a model for other companies to follow. Federated is a retail leader in monetary contributions. Giving through the Federated Department Stores Foundation, divisions and individual employees totaled $14.9 million in 2003 and topped $250 million in the last ten years.

FEDERATED CELEBRATES NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK:

1 MILLION HOURS IN VOLUNTEER TIME DONATED

In April, Federated Department Stores, Inc., parent company of the Atlanta-based Rich's/Lazarus/Goldsmith's-Macy's, celebrated a milestone in its employee volunteer program. Now in its 15th year, the company's “Partners in Time” program tallied up more than one million volunteer hours, with a value of $16 million to the non-profits that benefit. Partners in Time was originally founded in Atlanta and will celebrate is 15 th anniversary this fall.

GO RED FOR WOMEN: RICH'S-MACY'S TEAMS UP WITH AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE #1 KILLER OF WOMEN

This past February when the whole world fell in love with red for Valentine's Day, the color red showed it's serious side and shade with the launch of the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women campaign. And knowing that the way to a woman's heart is through her closet, Rich's-Macy's celebrated National Wear Red Day by inviting customers to visit the cosmetics counters to pick up a free Red Dress lapel pin. Initiatives designed to raise funds for education and research included the sale of the Go Red Dress Bear, a collectible teddy bear from Gund™ and the Swarovski Litte Red Dress pin, with many more initiatives scheduled for the next three years.

SUPPLY FEST PROGRAM PROVIDED SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR 16,000 METRO STUDENTS

Sixteen thousand Atlanta-area students started this past school year off with a little extra help from their retail friends. Thanks to Supply Fest, a program developed by Rich's-Macy's and Staples, these children received essential school supplies. Not only did this program help students and their families, teachers benefited, too. According to the National Educator's Association, the average teacher spends $1500 of their own money each year on school supplies for their students who can't afford these basic tools.

ONGOING COMMITMENT TO WOMEN'S HEALTH ISSUES

In October of 1997, Rich's opened a mammography center at the Perimeter Mall location. This partnership with Piedmont Hospital has provided a convenient and accessible option for women. The center offers appointments as well as accommodates walk-ins.

The Atlanta-based Rich's-Macy's/Lazarus/Goldsmith's is a division of Federated Department stores, Inc. and operates 75 stores in 9 states including 22 Rich's-Macy's stores in Georgia .