From Nov. 30 through Dec. 12, shoppers at the jcpenney of the Woodbridge Center Mall are invited to turn small change into "pennies from heaven" by rounding up their holiday purchases and donating the difference to the Woodbridge YMCA child care facilities. The Woodbridge 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.

"It takes the support of our entire community to make it possible for more kids to be involved in a positive learning environment after school," said Nancy Drumm, Membership & Marketing Director. "As customers shop jcpenney this holiday season, we hope they will keep this mission in mind so that the social and academic learning opportunities we provide after school will continue to be available to Woodbridge Township 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. The afterschool programs offered at the Woodbridge YMCA child care facilities serves hundreds of students each year by involving them in programs that help kids develop social skills, provide opportunities to be physically active and achieve academic success in school.

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. When the community leverages the power of a penny to create opportunities for learning, we can make a positive difference in the lives of child care facilities future leaders.

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