PLANO, Texas, Aug. 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of its charitable giving program, jcp cares, jcpenney is supporting Teach For America, an organization committed to developing teachers and leaders to make America's schools great. Throughout the month of September, jcpenney customers can round up their store purchases to the nearest whole dollar and donate the difference to Teach For America.

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Teach For America works in partnership with communities to expand educational opportunities for children facing the challenges of poverty. Each year, the organization recruits and develops a diverse corps of outstanding individuals of all academic disciplines to commit two years to teach in high-need schools and become lifelong leaders in the movement to end educational inequity. Today more than 10,000 corps members are teaching in 46 urban and rural regions across the country.

"Customers shopping jcpenney this September can help ensure that every child across America receives an excellent education," said Miki Woodard, president of jcp cares and vice president of philanthropy for jcpenney. "With the school season officially underway, we know this is a cause that will be top of mind for both our customers and team members. Together, we'll be able to raise funds that will enable Teach for America to recruit, select, train and support more corps members and alumni, helping to close the education gap in our country."

"We're grateful for the generous support of jcpenney and its customers in the effort to ensure that more students growing up in poverty have access to the kind of education that will prepare them for college and the career of their choice," said Wendy Kopp, founder and chief executive officer of Teach For America. "With jcpenney's partnership, more Teach For America corps members and alumni will be working with students, families, and other community leaders to expand educational opportunity for the next generation."

John Legend, acclaimed singer and songwriter and nine-time Grammy Award winner, will join jcpenney in its support of Teach For America in September. A Teach For America national board member, Legend will visit Stockard Middle School in Dallas on September 10 where he will meet with students to discuss the value of education and observe Teach For America corps members in action. Additionally, jcpenney will be making a donation to the school's music program.

"I'm proud to join jcpenney in its support of Teach for America this September," said John Legend. "Educational opportunities should not be determined by your family's income or the neighborhood in which you live. By simply rounding up their jcpenney store purchase, jcpenney customers can make a huge difference in providing all kids with a chance to reach their full potential."

Customers can also join in Teach For America's effort to close the achievement gap through a dedicated jcp cares page on www.BroadCause.com, a social media platform dedicated to activating, accelerating and aggregating passionate communities around cause-based initiatives. Additionally, customers will also be able to support Teach for America in September through the Facebook social game, WeTopia. Created by Sojo Studios, WeTopia allows players to connect with friends, build a virtual town and spend a unique form of currency called "Joy" that spreads real-world aid to various non profits around the world. Furthermore, customers can make donations to Teach For America online at jcp.com/jcpcares and find more information about jcpenney's philanthropic commitments.

About jcpenney:
More than a century ago, James Cash Penney founded his company on the principle of the Golden Rule: treat others the way you'd like to be treated – Fair and Square. His legacy continues to this day, as J. C. Penney Company, Inc. (NYSE: JCP) boldly transforms the retail experience across 1,100 stores and jcp.com to become America's favorite store. Focused on making the customer experience better every day, jcpenney is dreaming up new ways to make customers love shopping again. On every visit, customers will discover great prices every day in a unique Shops environment that features exceptionally curated merchandise, a dynamic presentation and unmatched customer service. For more information, visit us at jcp.com.

About Teach for America:
Teach For America works in partnership with communities to expand educational opportunity for children facing the challenges of poverty. Founded in 1990, Teach For America recruits and develops a diverse corps of outstanding individuals of all academic disciplines to commit two years to teach in high-need schools and become lifelong leaders in the movement to end educational inequity. Today, more than 10,000 corps members are teaching in 46 urban and rural regions across the country, while nearly 28,000 alumni are working across sectors to ensure that all children have access to an excellent education. For more information, visit www.teachforamerica.org and follow us on Facebook and Twitter. 

jcpenney media relations
Kate Coultas and Daphne Avila
(972)431.3400 — jcpcorpcomm@jcp.com

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