One Warm Coat, with support from Burlington Coat Factory and ABC's Good Morning America, collects more than 200,000 coats, 24 percent increase over the previous year
This winter has been a little warmer for those in need due in part to the partnership of One Warm Coat, Burlington Coat Factory and ABC's "Good Morning America." The Third Annual Warm Coats & Warm Hearts Drive kicked off November 1, 2009, and collected a record 219,762 coats, a 24 percent increase over last year's drive. The campaign ended January 15, 2010.
As many Americans across the country were struggling with the current economic situation as well as the below normal temperatures, the three partners saw an even greater need to help people stay warm this winter season. The campaign kicked into high gear at Burlington Coat Factory's more than 440 locations nationwide and through "Good Morning America's" ("GMA") on-air coat drive segments.
All coats collected in Burlington Coat Factory locations nationwide were distributed by more than 250 agencies to those in need in local communities where the coat retailer has stores.
"One Warm Coat is extremely grateful to Burlington Coat Factory, its employees and customers, as well as 'GMA' and its entire staff, who helped make a difference in the lives of so many Americans in desperate need," said Sherri Wood, National Founder, One Warm Coat.
Overall, the Warm Coats & Warm Hearts Drive has collected more than 570,000 coats since the program launched in 2007. "Our goal was to ensure that people who need coats in local communities where we are located had them this winter," said Burlington Coat Factory President and CEO, Thomas Kingsbury. "With record cold temperatures throughout most of the country, our Burlington staff along with our partners pulled together and exceeded this year's expectations by leaps and bounds. We are so proud to be part of a campaign that has helped so many."
"We saw an incredible outpouring of generosity this winter – from our viewers around the country who made donations in their neighborhoods to the stars from television, stage and sports who appeared on 'Good Morning America' to personally donate their coats," said Jim Murphy, senior executive producer of the broadcast.
For more information about this program, please visit: http://corporate.burlingtoncoatfactory.com/gmacoatdrive/.
About One Warm Coat
One Warm Coat is a national nonprofit organization that assists in the donation of coats. OWC helps individuals, groups, companies and organizations across the country collect coats and deliver them to local agencies that distribute them free, to people in need.
The organization's mission is to ensure that anyone who needs a coat has one. Providing this simple, yet vital, need helps people live productive lives year round. Since inception, more than one millions coats have been collected and distributed through One Warm Coat activities.
For more information about One Warm Coat, visit: www.onewarmcoat.org/.
About Burlington Coat Factory
Burlington Coat Factory, the retail coat authority, 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 450 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.
About Good Morning America
ABC's Good Morning America is co-anchored by Robin Roberts and George Stephanopoulos. Jujuu Chang is the news anchor and Sam Champion is the weather anchor. The Emmy Award-winning morning news program airs live from 7:00 to 9:00 am/EDT on the ABC Television Network. Jim Murphy is the Senior Executive Producer and Tom Cibrowski is the Executive Producer of ABC's Good Morning America. For more information, visit http://abcnews.go.com/gma.
Contacts:
One Warm Coat
Sherri Wood, 877-663-9276
sherri@onewarmcoat.org
or
Burlington
Coat Factory
Courtney Ryder, 212-251-1210
cryder@c-k.com
