Sears Celebrates Five Years Of Heroes at Home, More Than 1,100 Veteran Home Renovations With Rebuilding Together

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HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill., May 21, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Renewing its longstanding commitment to improving the lives of America's military families, Sears has launched its annual spring renovation campaign with Rebuilding Together, the nation's leading nonprofit working to preserve affordable homeownership. In the past five years, Sears Heroes at Home has raised more than $16 million and helped more than 62,000 families via Rebuilding Together. Now through July 28, Sears is encouraging Americans to give back and continue their efforts by donating funds to Heroes at Home at their local Sears store or via a link online at sears.com/heroesathome.

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According to a recent survey conducted by Sears, nearly half of all Americans surveyed plan to volunteer, donate to a military-related cause, or thank a veteran this Patriot Season (Armed Forces Day, May 19, through Labor Day, Sept. 3)[i]. It's that spirit of appreciation that motivates hundreds of volunteers from Rebuilding Together and Sears to work in communities across America via the Heroes at Home program to address the urgent housing needs of veterans from past and present wars.

"As grateful Americans, we know the great sacrifices our military heroes make to protect our nation," said Ron Boire, Sears Holdings' executive vice president, chief merchandising officer and president, Sears and Kmart formats. "Sears' Heroes at Home program, teaming with Rebuilding Together, turns that spirit of appreciation into action that helps improve the lives of our veterans. We're proud to be marking five years and more than 1,100 rebuilt homes and owe this success to the generosity and dedication of our customers and associates."

Heroes at Home rebuilds vary in size and scope, but all strive to provide safe and accessible housing. Highlights of the 150 projects currently underway across the country include:

• Aurora, Ill. – A complete 'studs-to-roof' renovation of a historic home that will eventually house 15 veterans suffering from war-borne trauma and substance abuse.
• Savannah, Ga. – A total roof replacement, updated windows and electrical wiring for a Vietnam and Gulf War veteran in desperate need.
• Green Bay, Wis. – A project to restore a donated home to give transitioning veterans a place to live while they make the needed changes in their life to finish schooling, secure employment, or save enough of their own money to make a down payment or security deposit on a place to live.
• Tacoma, Wash. – Home modifications for the widow of a military veteran who is now in a wheelchair and can no longer move comfortably about her home, including the widening of two doorways, replacing flooring and the installation of a wheelchair ramp.
• Rockville, Md. – Bathroom modifications, an exterior lift and a walkway so the wife of a Navy veteran who has physical disabilities can safely move about the home.

"We couldn't ask for better support than what we receive from Heroes at Home," said Gary Officer, president and CEO of Rebuilding Together. "Dollar-by-donated-dollar, hand-in-hand, we are able to make a difference in the lives of our veterans. We have the utmost respect for each and every American that serves our country, and providing them with a safe, accessible home that they can feel comfortable living in is our main priority."

In addition to working with Rebuilding Together to help veterans with home modifications, Sears has been recognized as one of the country's leading military employers. Sears currently employs more than 30,000 veterans, leading recruitment programs to place them in jobs within the organization as well as accommodations for their spouses who have relocated to be closer to them. The company also offers a military pay differential to its full-time associates who are reservists and serving on active duty, allowing each to continue participating in life insurance, medical and dental programs. Sears will also hold a comparable position for deployed employees for up to five years.

For more information about Heroes at Home, to make a donation and volunteer, visit www.sears.com/heroesathome.com.

About Sears Holdings Corporation
Sears Holdings Corporation is a leading integrated retailer with over 3,900 full-line and specialty retail stores in the United States and Canada and the home of ShopYourWay, a social shopping experience where members have the ability to earn points and receive benefits across a wide variety of physical and digital formats through ShopYourWay.com. Sears Holdings is the leading home appliance retailer as well as a leader in tools, lawn and garden, fitness equipment and automotive repair and maintenance. Key proprietary brands include Kenmore, Craftsman and DieHard, with a broad apparel offering, including such well-known labels as Lands' End, the Kardashian Kollection, Jaclyn Smith and Joe Boxer, as well as Sofia by Sofia Vergara and The Country Living Home Collection. We are the nation's largest provider of home services, with more than 11 million service calls made annually and have a long-established commitment to those who serve in the military through initiatives like the Heroes at Home program. We have been named the 2011 Mobile Retailer of the Year, Recipient of the 2012 ENERGY STAR® "Corporate Commitment Award" for Product Retailing and Energy Management and one of Top 20 Best Places to Work for Recent Grads. Sears Holdings Corporation operates through its subsidiaries, including Sears, Roebuck and Co. and Kmart Corporation. For more information, visit Sears Holdings' website at www.searsholdings.com. Twitter: @searsholdings | |Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SHCCareers

About Rebuilding Together
Rebuilding Together is the nation's leading nonprofit organization working to preserve affordable homeownership and revitalize neighborhoods by providing extensive rehabilitation and modification services to those in need at no cost to those served. With the help of everyday citizen volunteers, skilled trades people, the support of local business and major corporate partners, Rebuilding Together affiliates in America's largest cities and smallest towns make life considerably better for thousands of low-income homeowners and the communities in which they live by completing 10,000 projects per year. Rebuilding Together has programs dedicated to energy efficiency, veteran's housing, aging in place and gulf coast reconstruction. For more information, visit www.RebuildingTogether.org. You can also follow Rebuilding Together on Twitter @rebldgtogthr or become a fan on Facebook at Facebook.com/RebuildingTogether.

[i] A total of 1,020 online interviews were conducted by Russell Research from May 11 – May 14, 2012 among adults 18 or older. Figures for gender, age, and geography were weighted where necessary to match their actual proportions in the population. The study findings are projectable to the universe of online adults ages 18 and older. At a 95 percent confidence level, a margin of sample error of +/- 3.1% applies to the sample.

SOURCE Sears Holdings Corporation