JCPenney Afterschool Fund's annual benefit raises more than $4.3 million
Nearly 2,000 guests gathered in Dallas this week to raise money for the JCPenney Afterschool Fund at the charity’s annual benefit. This year’s event raised more than $4.3 million and set a new record by raising $132,500 from the live auction alone. A private dinner with Mike Ullman, Ken Hicks, Mike Theilmann and Mike Taxter raised $86,000 for the charity.
The silent auction was also a huge success, raising more than $95,000. Highlights of the silent auction included an amazing array of fine jewelry, autographed sports memorabilia and a private fashion consultation with Nicole Miller. Superbowl Champion Michael Strahan of the NY Giants was a crowd favorite again this year, serving as an emcee and a guest auctioneer.
Proceeds from the benefit will help the JCPenney Afterschool Fund advance its mission to provide children in need with access to afterschoolprograms. Research shows that more than 14 million children are left unattended between the hours of 3 PM and 6 PM each day. Left unsupervised, these children are three times more likely to engage in risky behaviors. The JCPenney Afterschool Fund addresses this problem by providing children in need with access to life-enriching afterschool programs that foster their academic, physical and social development. The JCPenney Company and the JCPenney Afterschool Fund have contributed more than $70 million to afterschool programs since 1999. Last year alone, the JCPenney Afterschool Fund awarded more than $9.2 million to our national afterschool partners including Boys & Girls Club of America, YMCA, National 4-H Council and the United Way.
The JCPenney Afterschool Fund would like to extend special thanks to the sponsors of the
2008 JCPenney Afterschool Fund Benefit:
