Aeropostale & Stomp Out Bullying™ Partner To Raise Awareness During National Bullying Prevention Month

NEW YORK, Oct. 4, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Aeropostale, Inc. (NYSE: ARO), a mall-based specialty retailer of casual apparel for young women and men, today announced a partnership with STOMP Out Bullying™, a national anti-bullying and cyberbullying organization supported by Nick Cannon and Taye Diggs, during Nation Bullying Prevention Awareness month this October.  Additional STOMP Out Bullying™ supporters include Tyler Blackburn, Melissa Joan Hart, Sean Kingston, Brittany Snow and Bella Thorne.

Back-to-School season is a time of year that should be exciting for students. However, harassment and bullying is increasing at an alarming rate, leaving many students fearing their return to school and activities this fall. To signify the importance of National Bullying Prevention Awareness month, Aeropostale has created 750,000 anti-bullying bracelets; a colorful cloth bracelet, which will be handed out at Aeropostale stores in the United States and Canada beginning October 4. Consumers are encouraged to pick up a free bracelet at their local store and be a part of the fight to stop the harassment.  Each bracelet is adorned with a powerful message - "Stop the Drama, End the Hate, STOMP Out Bullying."  To raise awareness, Aeropostale's brand ambassadors will distribute flyers and bracelets in their local schools and communities to educate their peers and teachers about bullying prevention.  Aeropostale's brand ambassador, actress Chloe Grace Moretz, will be lending a wrist and wearing the bracelet to show her support for this important cause.

"Aeropostale truly cares about the issues facing young people, and we are proud to partner with STOMP Out Bullying to generate awareness around this important cause," says Scott Birnbaum, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Ecommerce at Aeropostale. "We believe all students should have high self esteem, confidence and an overall positive quality of life in school, online and during extracurricular activities."

"I'm thrilled to partner with a brand like Aeropostale, a brand that recognizes the value of our children's mental and physical well-being," said Ross Ellis, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of STOMP Out Bullying™. "Kids, who are intimidated, threatened, or harmed by bullies and cyberbullies often experience low self-esteem and depression. Together we continue to raise awareness that bullying is wrong, and all forms of bullying, hatred, cruelty and homophobia must end."

Ellis added, "Unfortunately, bullying does not end at the school yard as it has taken on a new life via cyberbullying.  Through social media destinations like Facebook, Twitter, and other sites popular with kids and teens, bullying can reach students everywhere they go. This social online cruelty is used by individuals or groups intending to harm our youth, starting as early as kindergarten.  It's up to parents, schools, law enforcement, businesses, and the students to work together as a community to educate and prevent – putting an end to the violence."

STOMP Out Bullying™ offers students a safe haven. From offering information and resources, to providing an online area where youths can talk about issues, STOMP Out Bullying™ is an important outlet for kids today. Supported by celebrity PSAs, STOMP Out Bullying™ also helps kids become involved in social media efforts, create petitions, raise awareness, and offers a HelpChat Line for kids. The organization offers students an area where they can upload videos about their experiences with harassment and discuss their reasons to end bullying.

To learn more about how to help a child or teen handle bullying visit www.stompoutbullying.org. For additional information, please visit www.aeropostale.com, become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/aeropostale, or follow the brand on Twitter at @Aeropostale.

About STOMP Out Bullying

The leading, national anti-bullying and cyberbullying organization for kids and teens is a signature program of Love Our Children USA. Created in 2005, it focuses on reducing and preventing bullying, cyberbullying, sexting and other digital abuse, educating against homophobia, racism and hatred, decreasing school absenteeism, and deterring violence in schools, online and in communities across the country. It teaches effective solutions on how to respond to all forms of bullying; as well as educating kids and teens in school and online, providing help for those in need and at risk of suicide, raising awareness, peer mentoring programs in schools, public service announcements by noted celebrities, and social media campaigns. An additional focus educates parents on how to keep their children safe and responsible online: www.stompoutbullying.org, http://www.facebook.com/StompOutBullying Twitter: @STOMPoutBullyng  Hashtag #STOMPOutBullyng.

About Aeropostale, Inc.

Aeropostale®, Inc. is a primarily mall-based, specialty retailer of casual apparel and accessories, principally targeting 14 to 17 year-old young women and men through its Aeropostale® stores and 4 to 12 year-old kids through its P.S. from Aeropostale® stores. The Company provides customers with a focused selection of high quality fashion and fashion basics at compelling values in an innovative and exciting store environment. Aeropostale® maintains control over its proprietary brands by designing, sourcing, marketing and selling all of its own merchandise. Aeropostale® products can only be purchased in Aeropostale® stores and online at www.aeropostale.com. P.S. from Aeropostale® products can be purchased in P.S. from Aeropostale® stores and online at www.ps4u.com and www.aeropostale.com. The Company currently operates 913 Aeropostale® stores in 50 states and Puerto Rico, 76 Aeropostale stores in Canada and 97 P.S. from Aeropostale® stores in 21 states. In addition, pursuant to various licensing agreements, our licensees currently operate 22 Aeropostale® and P.S. from Aeropostale® stores in the Middle East, Asia and Europe.

Media Contact:
Christina Stejskal, DKC- Public Relations
(212) 981-5135 or [email protected]

Company Contact:
Christine Miller, Public Relations
(646) 364-0517 or [email protected]

SOURCE Aeropostale, Inc.