(3/16/12) – Safe Kids Pee Dee/Coastal, led by McLeod Health, announced their receipt of a $44,721 grant awarded by Kohl’s Cares at the Third Thursday with Kohl’s Child Safety Seat Check. The check presentation took place at 3:45 p.m. on Thursday, March 15, 2012, at the Florence Kohl’s (3041 W. Radio Drive, Florence).

The Kohl’s Cares donation will continue to fund the monthly Third Thursday with Kohl’s Child Safety Seat Check in Florence, as well as the bi-monthly Beach Seats Child Safety Seat Check at the Myrtle Beach Kohl’s. These programs offer free child safety seat checks as well as free child safety seats to the community.

At the check presentation, speakers included representatives from Kohl’s and McLeod Health, including Erin Faile, McLeod Health Community Health Education Coordinator; Phillip Battles, Kohl’s Florence Manager, and Dr. Timothy Spence, of McLeod Pediatric Associates of Florence.

"Safe Kids Pee Dee/Coastal, led by McLeod Health, is honored to once again be the recipient of the Kohl’s Cares grant," said Erin Faile, McLeod Community Education Coordinator. "This funding means more growth for our program while enhancing the safety of the children who live in our community. Four-out-of-five child safety seats are installed incorrectly. This program allows our trained technicians to decrease this number through education in our area."

Since 2008, Kohl’s has donated more than $136,000 to McLeod Health. Other McLeod Health initiatives supported through Kohl’s Cares 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 cause merchandise program. Through this initiative, Kohl’s sells $5 books and plush toys where 100 percent of net profit benefits children’s health and education programs nationwide, including hospital partnerships like this one. Kohl’s has raised more than $180 million dollars through this merchandise program. In addition to the merchandise program, Kohl’s Cares® features the Kohl’s Cares® Scholarship Program, which last year recognized more than 2,100 young volunteers with a total of $410,000 in scholarships and prizes. Through Kohl’s Associates in Action volunteer program, more than 385,000 associates have donated more than 1.2 million hours of their time since 2001 and Kohl’s has donated more than $35 million to youth-focused nonprofit organizations. Kohl’s also offers fundraising gift cards for schools and youth-serving organizations. For more information, visit www.Kohls.com/Cares.

Safe Kids Pee Dee/Coastal
Safe Kids Pee Dee/Coastal works to prevent unintentional childhood injury, the leading cause of death and disability to children ages 0 to 14. Its members include Florence County Sheriff’s Department, City of Florence Police Department, South Carolina Highway Patrol, and the City of Florence Fire Department. Safe Kids Pee Dee/Coastal is a member of Safe Kids Worldwide, a global network of organizations dedicated to preventing unintentional injury. Safe Kids Pee Dee/Coastal was founded in 1995 and is led by McLeod Health, and funded in part by the McLeod Health Foundation.

About 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. With a commitment to environmental leadership, Kohl’s operates 1,097 stores in 49 states. In support of the communities it serves, Kohl’s has raised more than $180 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.