Community

Our nationally recognized Partners in Time employee volunteerism program allows all associates - as well as their families - to serve their neighbors through meaningful and fun group projects. Partners in Time activities are carefully structured and organized so they make the best use of our employees' time as they strive for balance in their lives. Partners' projects span a range of interests, with areas of special concentration including homelessness, children, education, HIV/AIDS, Breast Cancer, Juvenile Diabetes and animal welfare.

In 2004, more than 2,000 Bloomingdale's associates and their families and friends volunteered more than 4,400 hours of time to a myriad of Partners projects, including:

• A Bag Hunger food drive, held concurrently in all Macy's, Inc. operations nationwide, as part of the Partners in Time nationwide "Series of Service." In 2004 at Bloomingdale's, we collected more than 121,000 pounds of food - enough to serve 120,000 meals

• AIDS Walk LA and AIDS Walk NY - hundreds of associates walked to create awareness and raise funds for AIDS/HIV organizations in the fights against AIDS.

Bloomingdale's commitment to education is demonstrated by a unique grants-for-schools initiative called "Earning for Learning," conducted with support from the Macy's Foundation. Schools nationwide have received more than $869,000 through employee and family volunteerism in support of academic programs. Since its introduction, Bloomingdale's associates have provided more than 1,720 hours of substantive educational support for youth, and generated grants of more than $22,250 for participating schools.

Our partnership with Mentoring USA has been recognized nationally. The Launch of National Mentoring Month - January 2001 - was showcased at our 59th Street Store through a window display featuring artwork by mentored children and a spot on the 'Today' show. Bloomingdale's continues to support National Mentoring Month every January through projects created by mentored children. In addition, Bloomingdale's received one of Mentoring USA's highest awards for the commitment of our employees in mentoring children in New York City and around the country.