Burlington Coat Factory Top Fundraising National Partner for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Fall 2009 Light The Night Walk

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., Feb. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Once again, Burlington Coat Factory reached another milestone by raising more than $2 million to support The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) research and patient services programs.  The company is the top fundraising partner of LLS's Light The Night® Walk.

"We are extremely proud of our strong commitment to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society," notes Tom Kingsbury, President & Chief Executive Officer at Burlington Coat Factory. "These fund-raising efforts not only support and promote LLS's goals and services, but they give us the opportunity to show our commitment to this great cause and raise awareness within the communities where we live and work."

Burlington Coat Factory has been a national partner of LLS's Light The Night Walk since 2002. In 2007 Burlington Coat Factory became the first national partner to break the $1 million mark. Burlington has continued to break its own record each year since the start of the partnership. The total raised this year by Burlington Coat Factory is a 25% increase over the 2008 total!  To date, the company has raised more than $7MM for LLS in its fight against blood cancers.

Each year Burlington Coat Factory supports LLS through a company-wide initiative to encourage shoppers to purchase paper balloon icons at its more than 440 locations around the country. The local stores sold more than 1.9 million balloons during the 2009 campaign.  In addition, Burlington Coat Factory employees participated in Light The Night Walks in their communities.

"The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is extremely grateful to Burlington Coat Factory, its employees and customers, who are helping to make a difference in the lives of so many patients and their families through this initiative," said John Walter, LLS President and CEO.

Overall, the Light The Night Walk grossed approximately $39 million this fall, with walks taking place in more than 200 communities around the country and in Canada.

About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society ® (LLS) is the world's largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer. The LLS mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world and provides free information and support services.  

Founded in 1949 and headquartered in White Plains, NY, LLS has chapters throughout the United States and Canada. To learn more, visit www.LLS.org or contact the Information Resource Center at (800) 955-4572, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET. www.lls.org.

About Burlington Coat Factory

Burlington Coat Factory, the retail authority on coats, offers a broad selection of branded quality merchandise at everyday low prices across many product categories including ladies' sportswear, menswear, family footwear, children's clothing, baby furniture and accessories, home décor and gifts, along with the largest selection of coats for the entire family in the nation. The updated Burlington Coat Factory, founded in 1972, has expanded from a single store selling coats to a multi-department retail chain with 442 stores in 44 states and Puerto Rico, predominantly under the name "Burlington Coat Factory." For more information about Burlington Coat Factory, visit our website at www.burlingtoncoatfactory.com.

SOURCE The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society