maurices Celebrates Grand Give in Headquarters' Hometown

DULUTH, Minn., Sept. 9, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- In celebration of its associates who have helped maurices grow from a single women's retail store in downtown Duluth in 1931 to a national multi-channel retailer with 930 stores in the U.S. and Canada today, maurices is closing its headquarters in Duluth, MN, on September 10, 2014, to celebrate the Best Day Ever. The morning of the Best Day Ever starts with the Grand Give.

More than 500 associates will gather at the Duluth Entertainment & Convention Center (DECC) in Duluth, Minnesota, in their Grand Give t-shirts and depart in busses, vans and cars to more than 35 locations across the community to make donations of meaningful impact to the less fortunate and to surprise and delight community members.

"We're so proud to call Duluth home to our headquarters for more than 85 years and the Grand Give is our way of giving back to our hometown community," says George Goldfarb, president of maurices. "Giving back is so important to our associates and our customers and we fundamentally believe in bettering our communities."

maurices home office associates were asked to identify organizations and causes that were important to them and more than 35 were selected. There will be donations of meaningful impact to nonprofit organizations, gifts of appreciation to groups that provide service to our community and kids, and random acts of kindness to surprise and delight community members. Many of the organizations submitted "wish lists" and maurices associates shopped to fulfill those lists!

A few of the highlights include transforming a soup kitchen into a vibrant, decorated restaurant to provide a very special breakfast to those in need. Guests will be served and treated with 5-star service and a special menu is being prepared by a local Chef, featuring items that wouldn't normally be served. Volunteers will also be making blankets for the homeless and pediatric cancer patients; providing gifts and spending quality time at assisted living and senior centers; donating supplies to local schools; bringing treats and supplies to fire and police stations; providing toys, books, games and supplies to children's centers and hospitals; providing much needed supplies to a women's shelter; supporting a gardening program for the underemployed and donating food and paying for adoption fees at an animal shelter.

maurices associates will also be surprising and delighting community members with random acts of kindness at locations throughout the community – coffee shops, restaurants, and gas stations! And there will be downtown street/skywalk teams giving out water, bus passes, granola bars, maurices gift cards and more!

Nationally, maurices gives $8 million annually to nonprofits through its clothing rummage program, national cause marketing programs and more!

After the Grand Give, maurices associates will gather together for a company meeting, followed by a presentation from Marcus Buckingham, the world's foremost authority on helping people to engage the best of themselves in their work. He is the author of leading books such as First, Break All the Rules and his latest book and strengths assessment, StandOut. The evening will conclude with a social and private concert featuring country super stars Sam Hunt and Brett Eldredge.

"This will be a very special day for our associates and our community," says Goldfarb. "This is the first time we've brought all of our home office associates and national field leaders together for an amazing day and evening. The Best Day Ever is a day of giving back, learning, connecting and celebrating like never before!"

about maurices

maurices is the fashion store for women who embrace who they are and want to express their unique style. We offer real style for real lives, in sizes 1-24. maurices, a multi-channel retailer, currently operates 930 stores in 46 states and Canada.    www.maurices.com

maurices is a subsidiary of Ascena Retail Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASNA), a leading specialty retailer offering clothing, shoes, and accessories for missy and plus-size women and tween girls, under the Justice, Lane Bryant, maurices, dressbarn and Catherines brands. Ascena Retail Group, Inc. operates through its subsidiaries approximately 4,000 stores throughout the United States and Canada.

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SOURCE maurices