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Sears
American Dream Campaign Brings the Good Life to Foster Families
Governor
Sonny Perdue joined GRA President John Heavener and Board Member
Ray Mahaffey in Columbus to bring the Sears American Dream Campaign
to the Peach State . Sears has partnered with the state's Department
of Human Resources/Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS)
to provide nearly 4,000 Georgia foster families with coupon books
to shop at Sears for their home and family needs. In
providing the support, GRA board member and Sears employee, Ray
Mahaffey, stated that, “Sears values the role foster care families
play in the lives of young children and young adults. The coupon
books will assist Foster Care Families in their efforts to outfit
and maintain their homes and families.”
A
2004 survey indicated that foster care families in the State of
Georgia preferred Sears as a shopping venue. The survey further
indicated that the families would value merchandise discounts, allowing
them to purchase items needed to provide a comfortable environment
for the children that they are welcoming into their homes.
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"Taking on a new family member can be emotionally and financially
challenging," says Robert Smith, Columbus Sears store
general manager. "We hope that this special discount
program will help lessen the financial burdens for foster families."
In
addition, Sears donated 100 backpacks filled with items such as
teddy bears, writing journals, alarm clocks, radios and flashlights.
Governor Perdue, Sears associates and retirees and local foster
families rolled up their sleeves to stuff the backpacks at the Columbus
Sears store. DFCS staff will distribute the backpacks to 100 foster
children who will be placed in new homes in the Columbus area this year.
The
contribution here in Georgia is part of a multi-year $100 million
community outreach initiative begun by Sears in August 0f 2002.
The program is designed to overcome barriers to home ownership and
provide products and services to help people outfit and maintain
their homes.
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