For Immediate Release
Monday, December 3rd, 2007

Share the Warmth and Spread the Goodwill

TORONTO, December 3 - Don’t let holiday stress dampen your spirits this year – Banana Republic and Goodwill Industries are giving customers a chance to ‘share the warmth’ while shopping. Holiday shoppers can trade in their gently worn sweaters at any Banana Republic store in exchange for a 30 per cent discount on a regular-priced sweater between December 6 through 12. Donated sweaters will be sold in Goodwill retail stores across the country, and the proceeds will fund Goodwill job training programs that benefit hundreds of thousands of people each year.

“For over 10 years, Gap Inc. and its employees have been working with Goodwill Industries in their local communities,” said Aimee Lapic, vice president of marketing for Banana Republic. “This holiday season, our customers have the chance to embrace the giving spirit along with us and donate sweaters to a great cause.”

Customers can drop off their sweaters at any Banana Republic store in the United States and Canada.  In exchange, they will receive one coupon per sweater donated – limit three coupons per customer – for a 30 percent discount off regular-priced sweaters, excluding 100 percent cashmere sweaters. 

“It’s an easy way for shoppers to give back during a hectic time of year,” says Mitzie Hunter, vice president of external relations for Goodwill.  “And with Goodwill depending on its retail sales for more than half of its revenue, every sweater donated will help us earn the funding we need to create work for marginalized individuals in the community.”

About Goodwill
Since 1935, Goodwill’s mission is to create work opportunities and skills development for people facing barriers to employment, including persons with disabilities, youth at risk, the chronically unemployed, Aboriginal people and newcomers to Canada.  Our Community Stores sell a wide variety of donated goods, the revenues from which create jobs at Goodwill, giving people much-needed paid work experience.

For media inquires, contact:
Audrey Kim, Corporate Affairs Specialist
Tel: 416-815-4767
E-mail: akim@goodwill.on.ca