CONTACT:

Sears Public Relations And Communications
 
(847) 286-8371

'Layaway Angels' Create Holiday Miracles at Sears

  Anonymous Benefactors Spread Spirit of Giving and Remind All of the True
                          Meaning of the Holidays

    HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill., Dec. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- The holiday season has
long been regarded as a time to spend with family, focus on what matters
most and -- when circumstances allow -- give back. Anonymous "Layaway
Angels" have embraced the essence of the holiday spirit by doing more than
just giving back. These angels have given some families true holiday
miracles by paying off remaining layaway balances at Sears' stores.

    Named the "Layaway Angels" by a Sears store manager, these anonymous
benefactors have embraced the essence of the season's spirit, giving some
families real-life holiday miracles by paying off the remaining layaway
balances at Sears for customers they believed might need it most.

    The Layaway Angels appeared first at a Sears in Claremont, Calif.,
where they elected to pay the outstanding balances totaling more than
$1,000 for customers who had set aside necessities such as children's
shoes, socks, underwear, other clothing and toys. Although the Layaway
Angels wished to remain anonymous, the couple wrote a note to each
recipient that read; "Believe in miracles and have faith -- your Christmas
Angel."

    "We are touched that these 'Layaway Angels' would find it in their
hearts to give back anonymously. They are a wonderful example of charitable
giving and what the holiday season should be about," said Don Hamblen,
Sears' chief marketing officer. "We hope that the kindness of these
strangers continues to spread into the New Year, inspiring others to help
out this holiday. Sears has a steadfast commitment to giving back, and we
are proud of the acts of holiday generosity that is occurring in our
stores."

    The outpouring of relieved responses from those the Layaway Angels
helped was heartfelt. When the Claremont Sears store manager called the
layaway customers to let them know of their holiday miracle, one customer
shared that his house was in foreclosure and this was "the best present
imaginable." Another father, who came in with his wife and five young
children, to pay his balance was overwhelmed and in tears.

    The actions of Claremont's Layaway Angels have even inspired copycat
"Angels" to emerge in other parts of the country, as anonymous donors have
stepped up in El Centro, Escondido and Chula Vista, Calif., Sears stores to
pay the remaining layaway bills of those they thought might be in similar
situations.

    About Sears Holdings Corporation

    Sears Holdings Corporation (Nasdaq: SHLD) is the nation's fourth
largest broadline retailer with over $50 billion in annual revenues and
approximately 3,800 full-line and specialty retail stores in the United
States and Canada. Sears Holdings is the leading home appliance retailer as
well as a leader in tools, lawn and garden, home electronics and automotive
repair and maintenance. Key proprietary brands include Kenmore, Craftsman
and DieHard, and a broad apparel offering, including such well-known labels
as Lands' End, Jaclyn Smith and Joe Boxer, as well as the Apostrophe and
Covington brands. It also has Martha Stewart Everyday products, which are
offered exclusively in the U.S. by Kmart and in Canada by Sears Canada. The
company is the nation's largest provider of home services, with more than
13 million service calls made annually. For more information, please visit
Sears Holdings' website at http://www.searsholdings.com.


SOURCE Sears Holdings Corporation





 

 
Web site: http://www.searsholdings.com

  

 
CONTACT: Regina Pelz-Westergaard of Euro RSCG Worldwide PR,
 +1-847-286-8984, regina.pelz-westergaard@eurorscg.com, for Sears
 Holdings Corporation; or Tom Aiello of Sears Holdings
 Corporation, +1-847-286-7387, TAIELL1@searshc.com