Shoppers at Saks Fifth Avenue at The Gardens Mall were able to help save sea turtles during the entire month of February. 5% of all registered purchases made with a Saks Fifth Avenue credit card were given to Loggerhead Marinelife Center (LMC), a non-profit, sea turtle rehabilitation hospital and museum, through an initiative called Saks Loves Your Cause. After a month full of shopping and events, a total of $10,000 at a check presentation held on April 24, 2013, was given to the center to help fund their largest annual fundraiser, the Sixth Annual Lights Out Gala.
“After Saks Fifth Avenue’s successful charity initiative in 2012, were excited to be able to continue with the February promotion for the second year. We appreciate our customers’ charitable involvement and again look forward to giving back locally with this exciting national program,” Steve Sadove, Chairman and CEO, Saks Incorporated, said.
This initiative came at the perfect time as LMC’s premier fundraiser, the Sixth Annual Lights Out Gala, was held on March 1, the start of sea turtle nesting season on Florida’s east coast. Along with the Saks Loves Your Cause initiative, Saks Fifth Avenue at The Gardens Mall also donated beach bags for the popular “Buried Treasure” Knotty Appeal raffle at Lights Out. The event raised $240,000 for the non-profit which will fund its important work in education, research and rehabilitation. Named for the worldwide Lights Out campaign which urges people to adopt a lights out policy near the beach during nesting season, the evening served as an important reminder to the coastal communities.
“We are so thankful to have such a wonderful partnership with Saks Fifth Avenue,” said Dawn Hoffman, co-chair of the Lights Out Gala. “Lights Out was a success and couldn’t have been done without their support. This annual fundraiser is so important because it promotes our mission as a center and raises awareness for people to adopt a lights out policy near the beach to keep our precious sea turtle safe. I can’t wait until next year,” she added.
# # #
About Loggerhead Marinelife Center:
Loggerhead Marinelife Center, a non-profit organization, is committed to the conservation of Florida’s coastal ecosystems through public education, research and rehabilitation with a focus on threatened and endangered sea turtles. The center features an on-site campus hospital, learning exhibits and aquariums. Situated on the world’s most important sea turtle nesting beach, Loggerhead Marinelife Center is open daily and hosts over 215,000 visitors each year. For more information, visit www.marinelife.org or call 561-627-8280.
About Saks Fifth Avenue:
Saks Fifth Avenue, one of the world’s preeminent specialty retailers, is renowned for its superlative American and international designer collections, its expertly edited assortment of handbags, shoes, jewelry, cosmetics and gifts, and the first-rate fashion expertise and exemplary client service of its Associates. Today, Saks operates 43 full-line stores in 20 states, 5 international licensed stores, 65 Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH stores and saks.com, the company’s online store. Saks Fifth Avenue is proud to be named a J.D. Power and Associates 2012 Customer Service Champion and is only one of 50 U.S. companies so named.