Stewart’s Holiday Match Donation Reached $1.34 Million; 1,471 Charities Benefit

SARATOGA SPRINGS – Checks, totaling $1.34 million, have been mailed to nonprofit organizations that applied for Stewart’s Holiday Match funds. The money will assist local children’s charities within the 30 counties where Stewart’s Shops are located. “It is both challenging and inspirational to read over all the applications requesting funding. This year we received a record number of requests, for more than $3.6 million. While we couldn’t meet everyone’s needs, we were able to provide $1.34 million dollars to 1,471 organizations,” said Stewart’s Foundation President Susan Dake. “We are pleased to be a part of all the good work these local charities accomplish.” Stewart’s Shops said that customers were able to donate the same amount of money to the program as last year, despite having six less collection days because of the shortened time between the holidays. Donations are collected from Thanksgiving Day through Christmas Day at all Stewart’s Shops locations. Individual donations are then matched by Stewart’s Shops, penny for penny. There are no administrative costs and 100 percent of the funds, that are collected and matched, directly benefit children’s organizations within the communities that make the program such a success. The Stewart’s Holiday Match has allocated nearly $19 million since the program’s inception in 1986. The company continues to give back to the communities where its shops are located, donating $2.5 million dollars annually, and family foundations contributing an equal amount. Stewart’s credits the success of the Holiday Match program to their generous customers, dedicated shop partners who worked to collect the funds, and to the media partners that helped get the word out in our communities.