(11/17/10) – Safe Kids Florence, led by McLeod Health, will launch the Kohl’s Cares® Safe Seats at the Beach program on Tuesday, November 23, 2010. A check presentation for a $35,129 grant awarded by Kohl’s Department Stores will be held at 3:00 p.m. in addition to a child safety seat check which will take place from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. in the Myrtle Beach Kohl’s parking lot.

The Kohl’s Cares® donation to Safe Kids Florence, led by McLeod Health, will continue to fund the Third Thursday with Kohl’s program, and the quarterly Kohl’s Safe Seats at the Beach program in Myrtle Beach. These programs offer free child safety seat checks, as well as a limited number of free child safety seats to the community. This grant is the third that McLeod Safe Kids has received from Kohl’s Cares®. "The expansion to Horry County will allow Safe Kids to serve an area that is not currently served by a Safe Kids coalition," said Erin Faile, McLeod Community Education Coordinator. "Through this program, it is Safe Kids Florence’s expectation that we will drastically decrease the number of child injuries in Horry County due to improper use of child safety seats."

McLeod Safe Kids received a grant of more than $25,000 from Kohl’s Cares® in November of 2008, which initiated the Third Thursday program. Since that time, Safe Kids has checked more than 570 seats and provided nearly 540 child safety seats to those in need at the Florence Kohl’s events.

McLeod Safe Kids certified car seat technicians are on site at each event. Each child safety seat technician follows a child passenger safety checklist of child safety seat qualifications to ensure the safety of each child.

The technicians check proper installation of child safety seats, correct those in need, and educate on proper installation and use. The technician will determine if a new child safety seat is needed. If so, one per family is available while supplies last.

"Safe Kids Florence, led by McLeod Health, is honored to once again be the recipient of the Kohl’s Cares grant," Faile said. "This funding means more growth for our program while enhancing the safety of the children who live in our community."

To date, Kohl’s has donated more than $91,200 to McLeod Health. Other McLeod Health programs supported through Kohl’s include the McLeod Children’s Hospital Radiothon and Children’s Miracle Network Celebration Broadcast.

Kohl’s commitment to McLeod Health is made possible through the Kohl’s Cares® philanthropic initiative. Kohl’s Cares® includes a merchandise program featuring $5 books and plush toys where 100 percent of net profits go toward supporting hospital partnerships. Kohl’s has raised more than $150 million dollars through this merchandise program. In addition, Kohl’s Cares® features a scholarship program, which recognizes more than 2,100 young volunteers with a total of $410,000 in scholarships and prizes this year; the Associates in Action program, which encourages associate volunteerism and provided more than $10 million in grants to youth-focused nonprofit organizations last year alone; and fundraising gift cards for schools and youth-serving organizations. For more information, visit www.kohlscorporation.com.

Safe Kids Florence

Safe Kids Florence, led by McLeod Health, works to prevent accidental childhood injury, the leading cause of death for children ages 14 and under. Safe Kids Florence is a member of Safe Kids Worldwide, a global network of organizations dedicated to preventing accidental injury. Safe Kids Florence is funded in part by the McLeod Health Foundation.

Kohl’s Department Stores

Based in Menomonee Falls, Wis., Kohl’s (NYSE: KSS) is a family-focused, value-oriented specialty department store offering moderately priced, exclusive and national brand apparel, shoes, accessories, beauty and home products in an exciting shopping environment. Kohl’s operates 1,089 stores in 49 states with a commitment to environmental leadership. In support of the communities it serves, Kohl’s has raised more than $150 million for children’s initiatives nationwide through its Kohl’s Cares® cause merchandise program, which operates under Kohl’s Cares, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kohl’s Department Stores, Inc. For a list of store locations and information, or for the added convenience of shopping online, visit www.kohls.com.