Kay Jewelers raised $1.7 million for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital through holiday sales of "Cooper & Cubs" plush bears. On April 21, Kay Jewelers presented St. Jude with the $1.7 million check.

Twenty-five Kay Jewelers' managers from around the country toured St. Jude, met patients and their families and presented the hospital with the check for $1.7 million. Accepting the check on behalf of the hospital was John Moses, CEO-elect of ALSAC, the hospital's fund-raising arm.

For the past six years, Kay Jewelers' parent company, Sterling Jewelers Inc., has offered plush animals to its jewelry customers during the holiday season. The company has raised $6.1 million for the hospital in just six years and has endowed the St. Jude Solid Tumor Clinic and Patient Registration Area. Money raised from this year's promotion is part of Sterling's $5 million endowment of the Patient Care Center's second floor in-patient unit. The 25 managers visiting Memphis earned the incentive trip to visit St. Jude because of their high plush sales during the 2004 promotion.

"This is our sixth year of partnership with St. Jude," said Terry Burman, chairman and CEO, Sterling Jewelers Inc. "It's a commitment we're proud to continue. Year after year, we see the remarkable life-saving work performed by St. Jude. In our opinion, there is no other organization in the world like St. Jude.

From October 1 through December 24, Kay Jewelers offered the plush animals for $9.99. All profits from the sale of the "Cooper & Cubs" bears were donated to the hospital.

April 2005

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