Big Lots And Its Customers Rally To Support Nationwide Children's Hospital

Customers Give BIG for Kids

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Sep 29, 2016, 08:55 ET

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Sept. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Continuing its commitment to giving back to health care and children in need, Big Lots (NYSE: BIG) announced today the launch of its national point-of-sale campaign to support Nationwide Children's Hospital. Building on the success of last year's campaign, which raised $2.2 million dollars, Big Lots will again collect donations to help kids everywhere.

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Beginning Sept. 29th, Big Lots will offer customers opportunities to donate at its 1,445 store locations, as well as online. Funds raised will support Nationwide Children's Hospital and the lifesaving research and monumental quality of care it is committed to providing patients on both a national and global level. To donate, please visit biglots.com/give4kids.

David Campisi, Big Lots Chief Executive Officer and President, stated "Nationwide Children's Hospital is the largest children's hospital in the country with patients from all 50 states and over 40 countries throughout the world. Their team of medical professionals are committed to life saving care and research that is second to none. We are proud to be their partner and proud to help take bold steps forward for our kids' health and future."

Mr. Campisi continued, "Last year, we raised over $2 million and we have set a goal of $3 million for this year's campaign. Our customers have been so generous to Give Big for Kids and our team of over 38,000 associates is energized around the cause. They are doing it one, two, and five dollars at a time. Each of us can help – the impact adds up quickly."

The six-week program will also include shopping sprees in seven markets across the country including California, Florida, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee and Texas. These shopping sprees will be led by Nationwide Children's Hospital Patient Champions from each market who will have the opportunity to shop at their local Big Lots store for gifts to send back to the hospital for patients and families to enjoy. Hospital Patient Champions are children who are being treated or who have been treated at Nationwide Children's and serve as ambassadors at various hospital events and programs.

As America's largest children's hospital, Nationwide Children's Hospital receives more than 1.2 million patient visits each year. In 2015 alone, children from all 50 U.S. states and 41 countries sought care at the hospital because of its premier staff, state-of-the-art facilities, revolutionary research and available lifesaving treatments, many of which are only available at the institution.

To learn more about Big Lots, speak with a company representative or arrange a store visit, contact the Big Lots Media Hotline at 877-251-0243 or visit BigLotsMedia.com.

About Big Lots, Inc.
Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Big Lots, Inc. (NYSE: BIG) is a unique, non-traditional, discount retailer operating 1,445 Big Lots stores in 47 states with product assortments in the merchandise categories of Food, Consumables, Furniture, Seasonal, Soft Home, Hard Home, and Electronics & Accessories. Our vision is to be recognized for providing an outstanding shopping experience for our customers, valuing and developing our associates, and creating growth for our shareholders. Big Lots supports the communities it serves through the Big Lots Foundation, a charitable organization focused on four areas of need: hunger, housing, healthcare and education. For more information about the company, visit www.biglots.com.

About Nationwide Children's Hospital
Named to the Top 10 Honor Roll on U.S. News & World Report's 2016-17 list of "America's Best Children's Hospitals," Nationwide Children's Hospital is America's largest not-for-profit freestanding pediatric healthcare systems providing wellness, preventive, diagnostic, treatment and rehabilitative care for infants, children and adolescents, as well as adult patients with congenital disease. Nationwide Children's has a staff of more than 11,000 providing state-of-the-art pediatric care during more than 1.2 million patient visits annually. As home to the Department of Pediatrics of The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Nationwide Children's physicians train the next generation of pediatricians and pediatric specialists. The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital is one of the Top 10 National Institutes of Health-funded freestanding pediatric research facilities. Nationwide Children's remains true to the original mission since its founding in 1892 of providing care regardless of a family's ability to pay. More information is available at NationwideChildrens.org.

SOURCE Big Lots, Inc.