 | Limited Brands In Action |
"Giving Back has always been an important part of the way we do business at Limited Brands, and I believe that in reaching out and giving to others, we enrich all our lives."
— Les Wexner, chairman and CEO
In 1963, Les Wexner started a company based on a set of shared values important to both our customers and associates. In order to mirror our associates' and our customers' values, Limited Brands supports community programs that focus on empowering women, nurturing and mentoring children and improving education. Also embedded in our focus is a commitment to inclusion. As one of our company's core values, we understand, appreciate and leverage diversity to provide value for our customers, associates and shareholders. Our philanthropic efforts represent a rich mixture of backgrounds, insights and perspectives. Going hand-in-hand with our efforts to help improve education is our commitment to enriching the cultural arts. We believe that vibrant cultural arts are synonymous with vibrant and diverse communities - exposing us to new works and different perspectives that not only entertain, but educate and challenge us to think about how we live today. At Limited Brands, we believe it matters how we play the game-and that includes making our world outside of work a better place. It's why for more than 40 years we've remained dedicated to improving the communities where we do to business, focused on making a positive difference in the lives of our associates, our customers and the global community at large. 2008 - A Year of Giving Back In 2008, our associates were provided with more opportunities than ever before to continue the Limited Brands legacy of giving generously, and, once again, their collective response was astounding. As associates, and as an enterprise, we: - Raised more than $7.5 million for United Way our home office locations;
- Donated over 12,000 hours through associate participation in various United Way community work days at agencies in our home office communities of Columbus and Kettering, Ohio, New York City and Rio Rancho, New Mexico;
- Granted over $8 million to various non-profit agencies in our home office communities;
- Continued assistance through the Associates for Associates emergency fund, which was created in response to the devastating hurricanes in 2005. To date, the fund has approved and distributed more than 420 gifts totaling more than $558,165 to assist associates facing hardships due to emergency situations beyond their control across the country;
- Donated more than $3.3 million in product donations. This includes bulk product, clothing and auction/raffle and in-kind donations to non-profit agencies;
- Sponsored over 4,000 race participants to support the fight against breast cancer through Komen Race for the Cure (Columbus, New York and Rio Rancho) and the American Cancer Society - Making Strides Against Breast Cancer (Kettering);
- Continued to make grants from the Limited Brands/Mast Cares fund, which has awarded nearly $1.4 million to international charity initiatives. Projects have included the rebuilding of two orphanages and a water purification infrastructure in Sri Lanka, a library of "talking books" for the blind in Vietnam, a summer camp for a youth home in Israel and a donation of boats to fisherman in Indonesia;
- Adopted more than 18,000 women and touched more 30,000 lives in families through our Giving Tree programs during Mother's Day and Holiday respectively;
- More than 100 business leaders are serving in community leadership roles and service on boards of directors of various non-profit agencies through our Community Connections program;
At Limited Brands, we are characterized by a deep commitment to each other, and to our communities. With our body of giving programs growing, and more of our associates participating every day, we will continue to give back-as individuals, and as an enterprise-and continue to make a difference! For questions about our outreach programs, grant processes or giving guidelines, please contact the Community Relations Department via e-mail at: makeadifference@limitedbrands.com or by phone at 614-415-7070. | 
