December 5, 2006 > Mervyns outfits 5,500 children through its holiday ChildSpree

Hayward (PRNewswire), Nov. 28 _As part of Mervyns' commitment to improve the lives of children in its communities, Mervyns will open its doors to more than 5,500 children on December 9, 2006 for its Holiday ChildSpree(SM), a shopping spree for underprivileged children.

Mervyns' Holiday ChildSpree provides $100 shopping sprees to economically disadvantaged children in Mervyns' local communities. Non-profit agencies and school partners work to pre-select the participants who are accompanied by a volunteer chaperone and are able to shop for new clothes, accessories, shoes and a warm coat for the winter season. Mervyns also provides a 15 percent discount on the children's purchases during the event.

To expand its award-winning ChildSpree program, Mervyns' stores feature limited-edition merchandise. These exclusive items sell for $5 each, with 100 percent of the net profits benefiting children participating in ChildSpree. For the holiday season, Mervyns introduced Sprockets(R) and Sprockette plush dogs wearing a knit scarf and hat as well as miniature Sprockets and Sprockette plush dogs in their own carrier. Stores also offer an activity set with art supplies such as colored pencils, crayons and markers -- perfect for rainy days or holiday vacations.

"We recognize that children in our own neighborhoods need coats and clothing to keep them warm during the winter," said Rick Leto, Mervyns' president and chief merchandising officer. "With the help of our community partners, Mervyns is proud to expand its ChildSpree program with our first company-wide holiday shopping spree."
Since its beginning in 1992, ChildSpree has become a dependable neighborhood institution for local children in need. To date, more than $18 million has been donated and more than 180,000 children have benefited from the program. ChildSpree reflects Mervyns' longstanding commitment to improving the lives of children and families in the communities it serves. Mervyns also provides a helping hand through financial support, employee volunteer activities and involvement in local non-profit initiatives.

For more information on Mervyns' ChildSpree program visit www.mervyns.com or call 1-800-MERVYNS.