Kohl's 2002 Annual Report Download - page 15

As Kohl’s continues to grow, so does our involvement in
our communities.
Children’s Hospital program
The Kohl’s Cares for Kids
®
Children’s Hospital program is our
community involvement initiative that emphasizes our focus on
families by partnering with children’s hospitals in the communities
we serve. This program has now grown to include 50 children’s
hospitals, with major affiliations in our newest markets of Boston,
Houston and Los Angeles. The Children’s Hospital program is
supported through the sale of special Kohl’s Cares for Kids
®
items.
The funds raised support the ongoing work of our children’s hospital
partners through the funding of needs identified
by the local hospitals. Initiatives supported
by Kohl’s include the purchase
of medical equipment,
renovations and child
life programs.
Supporting youth organizations
Our Kohl’s Cares for Kids
®
Fundraising Card program continues to
grow as more and more schools and nonprofit youth organizations
recognize how easy it is to raise money with help from Kohl’s.
Groups purchase the gift cards at a discount, resell them at face
value and use the profits for items such as equipment, uniforms and
trips. In 2002, the Kohl’s Cares for Kids
®
Fundraising Card program
helped more than 2,220 schools and nonprofit organizations provide
programs and activities that support the youth in their communities.
Building on our commitment to the families in our communities,
Kohl’s became the official department store sponsor of U.S. Youth
Soccer in 2002, a move that brings together a leading national retailer
with the country’s largest grassroots youth sports organization.
Recognizing volunteers
Our national Kohl’s Kids Who Care
®
program provides recognition for
young people who volunteer their time in their communities. Nearly
9,000 outstanding youth were nominated for recognition through
this program in 2002, with 746 selected as store-level winners and
76 chosen as regional winners.
Ten national winners
each received $5,000
scholarships for their
post-secondary education.
The variety of volunteer
activities of the youth
who were nominated
for this award is
impressive and
ranges from youth
who founded their
own nonprofit organi-
zations to students
who serve as caregivers
and peer educators.
Our Associates are also
involved in their communities.
In some communities, Kohl’s
Associates read to children in their
local schools. In others, Associates
volunteer their time with nonprofit
organizations focused on enriching
the lives of children. Our volunteer teams select the nonprofit children’s
organization they want to support and Kohl’s matches their participation
with corporate grants given directly to the charity. We’re very proud
of all of our Associate volunteers.
Kohl’s supports the work of designated children’s hospitals across the country,
including The Children’s Hospital at Carolinas Medical Center.
12
Kohl’s donated 40,000 hardcover books
to Milwaukee-area kindergarteners to
help celebrate our 40th anniversary.