Kohl’s announced it is deepening its long-standing commitment to families and communities through an expanded Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) platform, shifting the company’s focus from children’s health to holistic family health and wellness.
Kohl’s is launching new partnerships with two national organizations, Alliance for a Healthier Generation and Boys & Girls Clubs of America, to develop and implement critical programming aimed at improving the physical and emotional well-being of children and families, through donations of $2 million and $3 million respectively.
Additionally, Kohl’s recently announced a $5 million donation to Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin to help launch a multi-year mental health strategy to improve mental health services for Wisconsin kids and their families in the state where Kohl’s operates its headquarters.
“Enriching the lives of the families we serve and creating meaningful change in the communities we are proud to be part of has always been and will remain at the core of who we are as a company,” said Michelle Gass, Kohl’s chief executive officer.
“Our broadened focus on family health and wellness, particularly the introduction of our support of mental health services and new partnerships with organizations with the expertise to address critical needs, will enable us to make a difference in the everyday wellness of families including physical, mental and emotional well-being.”
Kohl’s existing CSR programs have and will continue to play a critical role in ensuring healthy families and communities, while the sharpened focus on overall family health and wellness will introduce support of mental health programming to create a holistic commitment to overall well-being.
Kohl’s Supports Family Health and Wellness
Kohl’s is helping fund the creation and implementation of three initiatives that enhance children’s physical, mental and emotional well-being, improving families’ health and wellness nationwide. These donations are made possible through Kohl’s philanthropic program, Kohl’s Cares, which sells children’s books and toys and donates 100% of the net profit to support happier and healthier communities nationwide.
New, National Partnerships
Kohl’s is launching new national partnerships with Alliance for a Healthier Generation and Boys & Girls Clubs of America to reach even more children and families across the country.
Alliance for a Healthier Generation: Kohl’s will donate $2 million to launch a new, innovative, family health and wellness initiative, Kohl’s Healthy at Home, that will encourage families to prioritize a healthy lifestyle in their home and wherever their children live, learn and play.
The program, which is designed to address the growing rate of childhood obesity, will be rooted in evidence-based practices that set the foundation for positive life outcomes for children and family members, including improved health and behavioral and academic achievement.
Boys & Girls Clubs of America: Kohl’s gift of $3 million will provide comprehensive social and emotional development training for staff and integrate emotional and social skills into all program curricula, enabling Clubs across the country to take a holistic approach to the health and well-being of the youth they serve.
“The family home is oftentimes the primary place where children receive the tools they need to fully develop and succeed,” said Kathy Higgins, chief executive officer at Healthier Generation. “As an organization committed to empowering kids to make healthier choices through our work with over 45,000 schools and out-of-school programs, we are proud to work with Kohl’s to support families in creating healthy homes where children can thrive.”
Hometown, Milwaukee-Area Partnership
Recently, Kohl’s deepened its commitment to children and families in its home state of Wisconsin with a $5 million donation, over four years, to its long-standing partner Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin to enhance mental health services. The grant will directly address the state’s need for greater access to mental health services for children and generate awareness about the impact a child’s mental health has on his or her holistic well-being. To read the full announcement, click here.
In 2018, some of the company’s most notable CSR highlights included:
Improving Community Health
Kohl’s committed more than $44 million to better communities nationwide through philanthropic efforts;
Donated $11 million to 4,500 nonprofits in recognition of associate volunteer efforts, for a total of more than $166 million since 2001; and
Raised more than $20 million through the Kohl’s Cares Merchandise Program, for a total of nearly $360 million raised since 2000.
Supporting Associate Well-being
Kohl’s championed associate health and wellness through 14 on-site wellness centers, with more than 35,000 associate visits;
Expanded Business Resource Groups to the entire organization and grew membership to nearly 3,000 associates; and
Celebrated each other’s accomplishments with more than 1.7 million peer-to-peer recognitions.
Leaving a Smaller Footprint
Kohl’s exceeded its Better Building Challenge goal to reduce energy consumption by 20 percent and committed to another 15 percent energy reduction;
Was named one of the 2019 World’s Most Ethical Companies by the Ethisphere Institute, and earned accolades from both the Dow Jones Sustainability Index and Barron’s list of the Top 100 Sustainable Companies; and
Diverted 83 percent of waste from landfills, closing in on its goal of 85 percent.
