America’s Thrift Stores Welcomes New Alabama Partner in 2018

Dear Friend of ATS or Loyal Customer or Frequent Donor,

For the past 32 years, supporting charitable missions has been at the heart of all we do at America’s Thrift Stores. In that time we have contributed more than $25 million in Alabama alone. This is a legacy we will continue as our mission as an organization is to contribute $100 million to our charitable partners over the next 20 years. Simply put, this is who we are, and who we will continue to be. As a result, it is with great excitement that we announce that, beginning January 1st, 2018, America’s Thrift Stores will embark on a long-term, statewide charitable giving campaign with the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Alabama. The mission of Make-A-Wish Alabama is to grant life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses, and we are honored to partner with such a remarkable Alabama charity.

While we are excited for the future, we are also extremely proud of the past. The support we have been able to provide to three separate charities in the state of Alabama is no small accomplishment, and we are especially grateful for our partnership with King’s Home. Our contributions of more than $20 million over the past 25+ years have helped King’s Home carry out their vital mission, and we anticipate cheering them on and watching them thrive for many years to come.

Now we look forward to a new opportunity. We are fortunate and grateful to embark on a new mission with a single, statewide partner, Make-A-Wish Alabama. By coordinating our donation collection and retail store focus throughout Alabama to support one single non-profit charitable organization, we will be able to operate more efficiently and cohesively, and our donors and shoppers will have one clear, single mission to support across the state. This was not a decision taken lightly, it is the result of much prayer and discussion on our part. It is a great honor to partner with a mission as important and as established as Make-A-Wish, and we are confident that this is the right move for the future of America’s Thrift Stores.

As a supporter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Alabama, your donations and the resulting in-store purchases will now contribute to making wishes come true for children with critical illnesses here in Alabama. Whether a child’s one true wish is to be an airline pilot, meet a favorite celebrity, or go on a dream vacation, your donations and purchases can help make wishes come true for Alabama children who need the hope, strength, and joy that comes with having a wish granted. There are approximately 300 children in Alabama who are currently waiting on a wish, and every dollar spent and donation made will help make the wishes of these children come true.

In the coming weeks, you will begin to see changes on the signage in our stores, donation trucks, and donation bins—changes designed to reflect our new partnership with Make-A-Wish Alabama. This new development, effective statewide on January 1, 2018, will not disrupt our operations, and we are committed to continuing to serve both you and our state in everything we do.

Our mission-focused company relies on you to help us help others. On behalf of the more than 1,200 America’s Thrift Store employees across Alabama, we say thank you for being our loyal customers and frequent donors. We ask you to join us in welcoming the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Alabama to our family, and we look forward to helping them grant wishes for many years to come.

Thank you
Ken Sobaski
President  & CEO
America’s Thrift Stores

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