Kohl's Department Stores (NYSE: KSS) is sending tens of thousands of its associates to volunteer in communities nationwide during the company's second annual Kohl's National Go Green Event (NGG) in celebration of two April events - National Volunteer Week and Earth Day. Through Kohl's associate volunteer program, Associates in Action, Kohl's volunteers will support youth-serving nonprofit organizations by participating in an environmentally-based activity, and Kohl's will match those efforts with corporate grants. Through this initiative, Kohl's will donate $2 million in grants to nonprofits nationwide for the second year in a row.

"Showcasing Kohl's ongoing commitment to environmental leadership and volunteerism, we are proud to once again announce that Kohl's associates will be out in communities across the country to give back and go green," said Julie Gardner, Kohl's executive vice president and chief marketing officer. "Last year's inaugural Kohl's National Go Green Event in honor of National Volunteer Week and Earth Day was extremely successful - resulting in thousands of volunteer hours and more than $2 million in grants for local organizations. This April, we are excited to again make a meaningful difference for kids, further environmental progress and have a powerful financial impact on local organizations."

In April, groups of Kohl's associates will be volunteering coast to coast for events including:

• Lending a hand at the Growing Power headquarters and urban farm in Milwaukee, Wis.
  
• Pitching in to clean up area beaches with the Surfrider Foundation in Los Angeles, Calif.
  
• Helping out in the garden at Hobbs Community Farm in Centereach, N.Y.
  
• Participating in the Earth Day cleanup and river restoration with the Nature Consortium in Seattle, Wash.

Year-round, Kohl's volunteers support a range of youth-focused nonprofit organizations. Kohl's then matches volunteer efforts with $500 grants to the organization. During the NGG initiative, Kohl's increases the grant amount for each event which will result in $2 million in grants for community organizations nationwide.

Committed to Giving Back
Kohl's strives to be an active member of each community it serves. Part of Kohl's community partnership is the Kohl's volunteer program. Since 2001, Kohl's associates nationwide have participated in volunteer activities that support children. When associates form teams of five or more to support a local youth-serving charity, Kohl's supports the team's participation with a corporate grant given directly to the charity. Since 2001:

• More than 385,000 Kohl's associates have volunteered
  
• Kohl's has executed more than 64,000 volunteer events
  
• More than 1.25 million volunteer hours were completed
  
• More than $35 million was donated to local nonprofits

The Kohl's Associates in Action volunteer program is part of Kohl's overall philanthropic platform, Kohl's Cares®, which is committed to supporting children's health and education initiatives nationwide. Since 2000, Kohl's has raised more than $180 million through its Kohl's Cares program.

Committed to the Environment
In addition to supporting green volunteer activities, Kohl's is committed to being a leading environmentally responsible retailer, implementing strategies from the corporate office to stores nationwide that encourage long-term resource sustainability, including:

• Use and support of renewable energy: Not only is Kohl's North America's largest retail host of solar power, the company is also a 2010 Green Power Partner of the Year and ranks first in retail and second overall on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) list of top green power purchasers. Through these green power purchases, Kohl's offsets 100 percent of its purchased electricity use as part of its commitment to remain carbon neutral through 2012.
  
• Aggressive energy management and monitoring: A 2010 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year with nearly 600 ENERGY STAR-labeled locations, Kohl's closely monitors energy use companywide to measure performance and identify areas for continued efficiency. Kohl's efforts to conserve energy include investments in high-efficiency lighting, heating and cooling systems, occupancy sensors, use of cool white ENERGY STAR-rated TPO roofs, demand response controls and upgrades to lighting and office equipment.
  
• Responsible building design, construction and operation: Kohl's is an active member of the U.S. Green Building Council and a leader in environmentally responsible building design and operation. To date, more than 140 Kohl's locations have earned Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, including the company's Milwaukee photo studio. Characteristics of Kohl's LEED-certified buildings include use of regionally sourced and recycled building materials, careful construction waste management and water-conserving plumbing fixtures.
  
• Comprehensive recycling and waste reduction programs: In 2010, Kohl's recycled more than 151,000 tons of material, including cardboard, plastic, hangers, office paper, light bulbs, electronics, construction materials and more. In addition, Kohl's associates partner closely with suppliers to eliminate or reduce packaging on merchandise shipped to stores and to identify shipping efficiencies, removing millions of cartons from the supply chain.
  
• Collaboration with suppliers: Kohl's makes it a priority to encourage environmental responsibility among business partners, providing each merchandise supplier with a sustainability score, which is used as a basis for ongoing discussion and collaboration. Kohl's also keeps the environment in mind when transporting merchandise, ensuring shipments are full on "to" and "from" trips, using rail for more than 50 percent of inbound transportation and encouraging carriers to be members of EPA's SmartWay program.
  
• On-site corporate gardens: Each summer, associates at Kohl's corporate office tend to four on-site, organic vegetable gardens. Since 2009, these gardens have helped teach the children at the on-site daycare about gardening and healthy eating and provided more than 1,300 pounds of food for local families.

About Kohl's Department Stores
Based in Menomonee Falls, Wis., Kohl's (NYSE: KSS) is a family-focused, value-oriented specialty department store offering moderately priced, exclusive and national brand apparel, shoes, accessories, beauty and home products in an exciting shopping environment. With a commitment to environmental leadership, Kohl's operates 1,097 stores in 49 states. In support of the communities it serves, Kohl's has raised more than $180 million for children's initiatives nationwide through its Kohl's Cares® cause merchandise program, which operates under Kohl's Cares, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kohl's Department Stores, Inc. For a list of store locations and information, or for the added convenience of shopping online, visit www.Kohls.com.

Kohl's Department Stores

Kohl's Department Stores

Based in Menomonee Falls, Wis., Kohl’s (NYSE: KSS) is a family-focused, value-oriented specialty department store offering moderately priced, exclusive and national brand apparel, shoes, accessories, beauty and home products in an exciting shopping environment. With a commitment to environmental leadership, Kohl’s operates 1,155 stores in 49 states. In support of the communities it serves, Kohl’s has raised more than $231 million for children’s initiatives nationwide through its Kohl’s Cares® cause merchandise program, which operates under Kohl's Cares, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kohl's Department Stores, Inc. For a list of store locations and information, or for the added convenience of shopping online, visit www.Kohls.com, join the discussion on Facebook (facebook.com/Kohls) or Twitter (twitter.com/Kohls) or get inspired on Pinterest (pinterest.com/Kohls) and Instagram (instagram.com/Kohls).

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