JCPenney And The Mahaska County YMCA “Pennies From Heaven”

Oskaloosa YMCA

OSKALOOSA, IA – Now through October 25, shoppers at the JCPenney store at Penn Central Mall are invited to turn small change into “pennies from heaven” by rounding up their purchases. One hundred percent of the funds donated through this event are designated to benefit After School Child Care Project scholarships at the YMCA in Oskaloosa. The Mahaska County YMCA is one of 1,100 afterschool organizations from across the country matched with a local JCPenney store that will benefit from the proceeds raised during the pennies from heaven campaign.

“At the Y, we believe young people deserve to reach their full potential, and we are committed to providing quality, affordable afterschool programs where kids can discover who they are and what they can achieve,” said Dawn Collins, Executive Director. “We hope the community will keep our commitment to youth in mind, so the positive learning environments we provide after school will continue to be available to Mahaska Community students.”

National research shows that one out of four students in the U.S. is on their own between the hours of 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. each day.* Y afterschool programs provide a safe and nurturing environment where youth develop social and critical thinking skills, engage in physical activity, and achieve academic success in school to reach their full potential.

“For more than a decade, JCPenney has been deeply committed to helping kids spread their wings by making it possible for more students to participate in life-enriching afterschool programs,” said Brandon Arndt, store manager for Oskaloosa’s JCPenney. “When we leverage the power of a penny to create opportunities for learning, we can make a positive difference in the lives of our future leaders.”

For more information related to the pennies from heaven initiative, visit jcpenneyafterschool.org.