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Stewart’s nets $1.26M for charities

    Stewart’s Shops’ Holiday Match program completed its 23rd year of collecting donations for local children’s charities with a record dollar amount.
    Stewart’s customers contributed $630,000 between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Stewart’s Shops is matching that amount, for a total of $1.26 million to be distributed to local children’s charitable organizations in Spring 2010.
    “We are thrilled to have finished the drive up over 10 percent from last year, set a record for Holiday Match, and to soon donate the money back into the communities we serve. Our customers, shop partners and media partners have surpassed everyone’s expectations,” said Susan Dake, Stewart’s Foundation president.
    The Holiday Match program relies on customers making contributions in the 327 Stewart’s Shops located in upstate New York and western Vermont. After this year’s funds are distributed, more than $13 million will have been allocated since the program’s inception in 1986.
    The $630,000 that Stewart’s is matching is just over 25 percent of the $2.25 million Stewart’s Shops has budgeted for donations in 2010. “Last year we were able to help thousands of organizations by contributing $2.25 million back into our communities. We are already seeing a high level of requests for assistance,” said Dake.
    Children’s charities can still apply for funding from the Holiday Match Program. Applications are available in all Stewart’s Shops or online at http://www.stewartsshops.com. Applications must be postmarked by Jan. 31 to be considered for funding.