KOHL’S DEPARTMENT STORES AWARDS FOURTEEN NEW YORK-AREA YOUTHS $1,000 SCHOLARSHIP FOR OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY SERVICE

More than 200 youth volunteers awarded $1,000 scholarships and qualify for $10,000 in total scholarships through the Kohl’s Cares Scholarship Program

The Kohl’s Department Stores’ (NYSE: KSS) Kohl’s Cares^® Scholarship Program honors more than 200 deserving volunteers with $1,000 scholarships toward post-secondary education. Fourteen children from the New York area were chosen from more than 35,000 nominees nationwide for making a positive impact in their local communities. Through the Kohl’s Cares Scholarship Program, Kohl’s is encouraging promising youth to further their education at a time when college costs have risen approximately seven percent per year for decades.

“Kohl’s is honored to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of the more than 200 regional level Kohl’s Cares Scholarship Program winners this year,” said Julie Gardner, Kohl’s executive vice president and chief marketing officer. “From collecting books for underprivileged children to fundraising for a community food bank, the efforts of these kids are undoubtedly making our communities better places to live and it is a pleasure to recognize and thank them for their work.”

• Samuel Finn, 18, Cos Cob – Samuel believes art is about giving back, so he organized The Empty Bowls Project, in which he spent more than 1,000 hours over two years making clay bowls. For a $5 donation, parents, school staff, and students were invited to pick out the bowl of their choosing, fill it with ice cream and keep the bowl with all proceeds going to the The Food Bank of Lower Fairfield County.
• Joey Rizzolo, 17, Paramus – Joey developed the Freedom Walk, now in its fifth year, in order to remember those who died in the 9/11 attacks and last year was able to organize a Freedom Walk in Iraq with the help of the U.S. Army.
• Kevin McNamara, 17, Holmdel – Kevin partnered with the American Recreational Military Services to raise more than $13,000 in supplies for care packages which were shipped to troops stationed abroad in Afghanistan.
• Mya Terry, 9, Oakhurst – After spending time in the hospital, Mya created Mya’s Mommy Bags, which are bags that consist of everyday essentials, so parents don’t have to leave their children alone in the hospital.
• Julia Lee Fontanarosa, 11, Denville – With a passion for animals, Julia decided to volunteer with The Eleventh Hour Rescue by fostering 21 animals and hosting a school event in which she raised more than $450 in dog food and animal toys.
• Zachary Certner, 15, Morristown – Inspired by a close friend with autism, Zachary created SNAP to provide children in need of extra support with programs where they can be included with their peers, and also to focus on getting children in schools and communities involved with working and understanding the abilities, not the disabilities, of others.
• Nidhi Gurjar, 17, Iselin – Serving as the Lieutenant Governor of Division 13 of the New Jersey District of Key Club International, Nidhi partnered with the Eliminate Project and raised nearly $5,000 to eradicate maternal and neonatal tetanus.
• Vanessa Acquafredda, 11, Staten Island – After a close friend was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis, Vanessa decided to hold several fundraisers in support of her friend and has raised more than $1,000 to help her friend’s family move forward through the difficult time.
• James Fallon, 10, Armonk – James partnered with Heavenly Productions Foundation to create Backpack Outreach in which he collected more than 600 backpacks filled with school supplies for underprivileged children in the Yonkers School District.
• Madeline Stites, 9, Sandy Hook – Inspired to do more for shelter animals after her family adopted two rescue dogs, Madeline created a 1.1 mile walk for kids and their pets and raised more than $300 for the local SPCA, enough money to buy a new kennel for their facility.
• Kiera Grassi, 16, Franklin Square – Kiera co-wrote the book, Franklin Square, which captures the history of her community and has donated all of the proceeds to the Franklin Square Historical Society.
• Sean Martin Posner, 12, Massapequa – A love for animals motivated Sean to raise more than $1,000 in donations for a local shelter and he plans to take his mission nationwide and inspire other kids to do the same.
• Brooke Dipalma, 15, West Islip – After her father committed suicide, Brooke started the campaign, P.S. I Love You, which extends support to those fighting depression and self inflicting thoughts through viral videos, a Facebook page and an annual day to wear purple in support of the cause.
• Erin McCarthy, 10, East Moriches – Erin has spent more than 250 hours volunteering with organizations and arranging fundraisers to raise more than $2,500 to give back to her community in various ways.