Change adds up in Stewart’s holiday drive
MALTA (Nov. 25) — Suppose you could turn your pocket change into $1.14 million?
Guess what — you did last year, and you can do even better this year. Just by throwing your change into the collection bottles on Stewart’s Shops counters, you helped donate $1.14 million to children’s charity projects in the 30 counties where the company has shops.
“It’s a testament to our customers,” Stewart’s marketing manager Tom Mailey said. “This is really driven by them. It’s 50-50; we match what they give.”
Since the program started in the 1980s as the Christmas Wish List, $12,301,554 has been given to charities — not that anybody is counting. Last year’s drive produced grants to 1,317 charities. The Friends and Neighbors of Ballston Spa used its grant to provide equipment for a themed playground at Kelley Park. The Chamber of Southern Saratoga County’s Chamber Angels bought gifts for area children in need.
Of last year’s grants, $140,750 were awarded to Saratoga County groups — second only to the $191,700 that went to Albany County. Stewart’s keeps the donations within the county the money was given in.
“The money stays in the community, so it’s really neighbor helping neighbor within the county,” Mailey said.
This year’s drive begins on Thanksgiving Day and ends on Christmas Day. All of the money collected will go to charity, and there are no administrative costs. Organizations have until Jan. 31, 2010, to apply for a grant, and they can download an application from the Stewart’s website or pick one up at a Stewart’s store. Funds from this year’s drive will be distributed in March.
“Holiday Match is really a children’s and young people’s charity,” Mailey said. Grant recipients have to be IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) local charities with projects benefitting children under 18.
The company’s 327 stores in New York and Vermont compete among themselves to see who can raise the most money.
“For the top 3 shops that raise the most money the president of the company, Gary Dake, goes and works a shift in each of them,” Mailey said. “The shops have fun with it. Everyone gets along well, and we can help the kids in the area.”
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