Goodwill® And The Bon-Ton Stores Invite Consumers To Donate And Save

Shoppers earn discounts and support job programs by donating used goods during the semi- annual spring event

ROCKVILLE, Md., March 7, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Goodwill Industries^® and The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ: BONT) are encouraging consumers to donate and save during the semi-annual Bon-Ton Goodwill Sale, which will take place from March 13­–30, 2013. Throughout the sale, The Bon-Ton stores will be accepting donations of used clothing and soft home goods to benefit Goodwill. Donations will be sold at Goodwill stores, and the revenues will fund employment placement programs and other community-based services that help people gain dignity and independence through the power of work, such as child care, financial education, youth mentoring and transportation. In return, every donor will be rewarded with discounts for any of Bon-Ton's 271 stores and furniture galleries.

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For each item of clothing or textile donated, shoppers will receive a discount coupon that can be used online or at any Bon-Ton, Bergner's, Boston Store, Carson's, Elder-Beerman, Herberger's or Younkers stores. The coupons can be used on nearly everything in the store such as women's, men's and children's apparel, shoes, handbags and accessories at a 25 percent discount, home store merchandise at a 20 percent discount and cosmetics, fragrances, furniture, and small electrics at a 15 percent discount. Consumers are also invited to visit http://millionactsofgoodwill.com and to learn more about the event and register to play the Closet Clean-Out Giveaway Instant-Win Game to receive a 25 percent off coupon to use in-store or online and be entered into the sweepstakes. The grand prize winner of the sweepstakes will have the Bon-Ton credit card purchases made between March 4 – 30, 2013, paid off (up to $2,500). By entering, consumers will also have a chance to instantly win Bon-Ton gift cards.

During the Goodwill Sale, customers are encouraged to help spread the word about their donations and new purchases using the hashtag #GoodwillSale. Goodwill Industries (@GoodwillIntl) and Bon-Ton Stores (@bonton) will highlight their favorite tweets throughout the campaign. Customers can also enter the @BonTon #GoodwillSale Twitter Giveaway March 13 through March 30, for the chance to win a designer handbag or $100 shopping spree.

"The semi-annual Bon-Ton Goodwill Sale is a unique opportunity for customers to clean out their closets, get great deals on new spring sale items, and make a difference in their own communities by harnessing the power of donations," said Jim Gibbons, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries International. "By funneling the revenue from donations into job training and placement programs, the Bon-Ton Goodwill Sale enables local Goodwill agencies to provide an array of services to job-seekers."

The Bon-Ton Goodwill Sale is the largest and longest standing department store donation drive with Goodwill. The sale takes place twice a year in the spring and fall. In 2012, Bon-Ton and Goodwill launched the inaugural Holiday Sale. Since 1994, the Goodwill Sale, a cause-marketing collaboration, has generated an estimated potential value of $205 million. Last year was the first year that the Goodwill Sale exceeded the $200 million mark in revenue to support Goodwill's employment services.

"For nearly two decades, the partnership between The Bon-Ton Stores and Goodwill has helped shoppers across the country give back in a simple but meaningful way," said Brendan Hoffman, president and chief executive officer of The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. "Once again, Bon-Ton is pleased to give our customers the opportunity to make a difference in their communities and receive a discount on the new and exciting spring assortments in our stores."

About Goodwill Industries International:

Goodwill Industries International is a network of 165 community-based agencies in the United States and Canada with 14 affiliates in 13 other countries. Goodwill is one of America's top 25 most inspiring companies (Forbes). Goodwill agencies are innovative and sustainable social enterprises that fund job training programs, employment placement services and other community-based programs by selling donated clothing and household items in more than 2,800 stores and online at shopgoodwill.com. Local Goodwill agencies also build revenue and create jobs by contracting with businesses and government to provide a wide range of commercial services, including packaging and assembly, food service preparation, and document imaging and shredding. In 2012, more than 4.2 million people in the United States and Canada benefited from Goodwill's career services. Goodwill channels 82 percent of its revenues directly into its programs and services. To find a Goodwill location near you, use the online locator at locator.goodwill.org, or call (800) GOODWILL. Follow us on Twitter: @GoodwillIntl or @GoodwillCapHill, or find us on Facebook: GoodwillIntl.

About The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc.:

The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc., with corporate headquarters in York, Pennsylvania and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, operates 271 department stores, which includes 11 furniture galleries, in 24 states in the Northeast, Midwest and upper Great Plains under the Bon-Ton, Bergner's, Boston Store, Carson's, Elder-Beerman, Herberger's and Younkers nameplates.  The stores offer a broad assortment of national and private brand fashion apparel and accessories for women, men and children, as well as cosmetics and home furnishings.  For further information, please visit the investor relations section of the Company's website at http://investors.bonton.com. Find us on Facebook: BonTon or follow us on Twitter: @BonTon

SOURCE Goodwill Industries International