Kohl's Department Stores, through the Kohl's Cares program, has donated $99,849 this year to Wolfson Children’s Hospital in support of Kohl’s Gear Up 4 Safety, an injury prevention program of Safe Kids Northeast Florida. The donations were collected from four Jacksonville Kohl’s stores and Kohl’s Gainesville store. Kohl’s has gifted over $300,000 to Wolfson Children’s Hospital since 2006, supporting Safe Kids Northeast Florida’s growing outreach to families.

Kohl's Gear Up 4 Safety is a year-round injury prevention program, educating both adults and children in the best practices for reducing childhood injuries.  The program spreads the injury prevention message and provides safety gear such as booster seats, bike helmets, and home childproofing items to parents, caregivers, and children across the community. Educational events include car seat checks at the Kohl’s Gear Up 4 Safety permanent inspection station, bike helmet fittings, water safety initiatives, and seasonal safety fairs. This year’s check presentation will be made at the annual Wolfson Children’s Hospital Red Wagon Parade at City Hall on Saturday, November 6, at 10 am. 

“Kohl’s has been a great supporter of children’s hospitals and children’s health across the country. We are very fortunate to have such a great partner here in Northeast Florida,” said Larry Freeman, Wolfson Children’s Hospital administrator. “Along with the donations which allow us to continue injury prevention programs, Kohl’s associates volunteer on a regular basis to make many of our community outreach events a success.”

Kohl's commitment to Wolfson Children’s Hospital is made possible through the Kohl's Cares cause merchandise program. Through this initiative, Kohl’s sells $5 books and plush toys where 100 percent of net profit benefits children’s health and education programs nationwide, including hospital partnerships like this one. Kohl's has raised more than $150 million dollars through this merchandise program. In addition, Kohl's Cares features a scholarship program, which recognizes more than 2,100 young volunteers with a total of $410,000 in scholarships and prizes this year; the Associates in Action program, which encourages associate volunteerism and provided more than $10 million in grants to youth-focused nonprofit organizations last year alone; and fundraising gift cards for schools and youth-serving organizations. For more information, visit www.kohlscorporation.com.

Also on November 6, Safe Kids Northeast Florida will be conducting a Kohl’s Gear Up 4 Safety Holiday Travel Fair at the Jacksonville Children’s Commission JaxKids Day in the Main Library Downtown from 9 am until 2 pm.  Free child passenger safety screenings will be conducted by certified technicians, who will be distributing vouchers for free booster seats to children who have outgrown their car seat but are still too small for a seatbelt. Games, prizes, and an appearance by “Buckle Bear” will also be featured at the exhibit.