BUSINESS: Bon-Ton helping community nonprofit organizations

Staff Reports
Lockport Union-Sun & Journal

October 30, 2008 01:19 am

— Bon-Ton is offering help to nonprofit organizations in the community.
Each local Bon-Ton is offering organizations in their area a chance to participate in its “Community Day” fundraising event Nov. 15. Nonprofits have begun selling Bon-Ton discount savings booklets and will get to keep 100 percent of the proceeds raised by consumers buying the booklets. Last year, Bon-Ton was able to raise more than $10 million for nonprofit organizations that participated.
“Supporting the communities where our employees live and work is extremely important to our organization,” said Bud Bergren, president and chief executive officer of The Bon-Ton Stores Inc. “We want to make a meaningful impact in our communities, along with providing a great shopping experience and high quality merchandise.”
Local organizations that stand to benefit in Lockport include the Barge Canal Optimist Club, Friends of the Lockport Public Library, Lockport Presbyterian Home, New Beginnings and many more. A full list is available at the Community Day Web site, www.communitydayevent.com/orglookup.php.
The local non-profit groups sell the Bon-Ton coupon booklets for $5. Each booklet contains special savings coupons valid on regular and sale price merchandise during the Community Day Event. Community Day booklets each contain one $10 coupon, good on an item of $10 or more, and eight additional coupons, each good for up to 20 percent off almost any merchandise purchased.
Organizations can still sign up to participate in Community Day by logging onto www.communitydayevent.com and submitting a registration form. The Web site provides the details of the event. Organizations include local 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, churches and schools. Since 1999, the Community Day event has raised more than $53 million for nonprofit organizations.
The Bon-Ton operates 281 stores, which include 12 furniture galleries, in 23 states in the Northeast, Midwest and Upper Great Plains.