Jockey Being Family Celebrates National Adoption Month

KENOSHA, Wis., Nov. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- This November, Jockey International, Inc., and Jockey Being Family, Jockey's corporate citizenship initiative to help strengthen adoptive families for successful futures, are celebrating National Adoption Month with a variety of initiatives. Since its inception in 2005, Jockey Being Family has donated more than $3 million to support the issue of adoption and impacted more than 275,000 adoptive families.  This month, Jockey and Jockey Being Family are bolstering several initiatives to drive additional funding for the issue and direct impact for adoptive families.

Jockey to Donate 1% of November Sales 

Throughout the month, Jockey is asking consumers to shop and make a difference. One percent of all sales through the Jockey catalog and on Jockey.com during the month will be donated to the Debra Steigerwaldt Waller Foundation for Adoption, Ltd., which funds critical services for children and families after an adoption has been finalized. Funds raised will support Jockey's nonprofit partners to conduct vital post-adoption trainings, conferences and workshops for adoptive families.

Debra Steigerwaldt Waller, Jockey's Chairman of the Board and CEO, was adopted as an infant and founded Jockey Being Family in 2005. "Adoption is a lifelong journey and we're committed to making sure adoptive families have the resources they need to remain strong and stay together forever," says Waller. "Through Jockey Being Family, we have impacted the lives of so many, but there is still much to be done to ensure successful futures for all adoptive families."

In addition to the month-long fundraising initiative, Jockey is celebrating National Adoption Month through various activities, including:

• Meeting with adoptive families and giving them Jockey Being Family backpacks the day their adoptions are legally finalized at the Kenosha, Wis. courthouse November 9;
• Recognizing adoptive families at the Wisconsin Governor's Adoptive Families of the Year presentation in Madison, Wis. on November 12;
• Hand-delivering Jockey Being Family backpacks to adoptive families at the Milwaukee, Wis. courthouse on November 16 – the day their adoptions are legally finalized; and,
• Celebrating adoptive families at the Adoption Resources of Wisconsin's Annual Adoption Gala on November 15.

Reaching Adopted Children Nationwide

November also marks a milestone for Jockey Being Family's signature backpack program, which will begin national rollout in partnership with the Center for Adoption Support and Education (C.A.S.E.) who has 15 years of nationally recognized post adoption services. The Jockey Being Family Backpack program was developed to meet the needs of children adopted through the child welfare system, who often arrive at their new homes with little more than the clothes on their backs and a few personal items carried in a garbage bag. The backpack program provides newly adopted children with their own backpacks filled with a teddy bear, blanket, fleece outerwear, and games and activities for the child and new family to enjoy together. The distribution of these backpacks gives adoption agencies and C.A.S.E. professionals an important point of contact to talk to families about their successes and challenges and help provide resources to ensure the families stay together forever.

Since 2005, Jockey has created and distributed more than 4,500 backpacks in Wisconsin. Through this national expansion, Jockey and C.A.S.E. plan to distribute more than 5,000 backpacks to children across the country in 2013. "We are so honored to be involved with the expansion of the Jockey Being Family Backpack Program," said Debbie Riley, C.A.S.E. CEO, Jockey has been a long-time supporter of our organization, and we welcome the opportunity to bring our local and national resources, and adoption competent expertise to help brighten beginnings for new families and offer support throughout the wonderful journey of adoption."

To learn more about Jockey's commitment to adoption or the Debra Steigerwaldt Waller Foundation for Adoption, Ltd., visit JockeyBeingFamily.com or call 1-800-562-5391. To shop and make a difference during National Adoption Month, visit a Jockey store or Jockey.com.

About Jockey Being Family
Jockey Being Family is Jockey International, Inc.'s corporate citizenship initiative that strengthens adoptive families for successful futures by providing access to quality services after an adoption has been finalized. Our cause naturally reflects our company's values as a family-owned company as well as our brand's dedication to providing comfort to all of the lives we touch. Since 2005, Jockey has donated more than $3 million dollars in financial and in-kind support to charities supporting post-adoption services throughout the U.S.

About Jockey International, Inc.
Jockey International, Inc., is a privately held company, founded in 1876. Today, Jockey is a leading manufacturer and marketer of apparel products sold in more than 120 countries around the world. With headquarters in Kenosha, Wisconsin, Jockey is committed to quality, comfort and innovation, and is dedicated to extraordinary customer service. Find archived press releases and information about Jockey's marketing programs at Buzz.Jockey.com. Shop at Jockey.com, call us at 1-800-JOCKEY-1, Like us at Facebook.com/Jockey, follow us at Twitter.com/Jockey, read our blog at Blog.Jockey.com, find job opportunities at LinkedIn.com/Jockey-International-Inc and enjoy our videos at YouTube.Jocky.com.

About C.A.S.E.

The Center for Adoption Support and Education (C.A.S.E.) strengthens the well-being of foster and adoptive families, promotes adoption awareness, enhances adoption sensitivity, and develops the skills for professionals and families to empower children to thrive. C.A.S.E. accomplishes this mission through counseling, training and education, community building, youth development and therapeutic recreation and publications. In addition to national training and education efforts the organization operates from Burtonsville, MD and serves the Washington DC metro region. For more information, visit www.adoptionsupport.org.

SOURCE Jockey International, Inc.