A.C. Moore Arts & Crafts Introduces Crafting a Better World – A Way for Crafters to Impact Their Local Community

A.C. Moore announces the introduction of Crafting a Better World, an initiative designed to give crafters a way to give back to their community by doing what they enjoy most – crafting. The initiative kicked off last week in honor of A.C. Moore Arts & Crafts’ 24^th anniversary, with a partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America, a national network of 4,300 neighborhood-based Boys & Girls Clubs serving more than 4.5 million young people annually through membership and community outreach.

"Crafting a Better World takes our community relations efforts to the next level by adding an ambitious, new program through which we will collaborate with our customers to make a direct impact on the communities in which they live and work,” explains Rick Lepley, CEO of A.C. Moore Arts & Crafts. "Our first Crafting a Better World partner, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, is an ideal fit for our company with its emphasis on kids, education and creativity. Our 133 stores will work with their local chapter of that organization to help their customers give back to their own community. As we move forward, we look forward to partnerships with other non-profit organizations throughout the regions we serve.”

During the next five weeks, A.C. Moore Arts & Crafts stores will be hosting crafting parties for participants in local Boys & Girls Clubs. During this same time period, customers are encouraged to drop off new or gently used craft supplies at their local A.C. Moore Arts & Crafts for donation to their local Boys & Girls Club. Customers can also add $1 to their bill at check out for donation to Boys & Girls Clubs of America. A.C. Moore will donate an additional $500 to the organization to honor its store which raises the most money.

"We are very pleased to be the first recipient of this new program. Introducing our kids to new forms of crafting will give them more positive, creative ways to express themselves and communicate their ideas,” says Glori Burrell, Boys & Girls Clubs of America Director of Corporate Development for the Northeast region. "Arts and crafts programming is a key component to all our local clubs, but maintaining a variety of necessary supplies has been a problem. The parties will give hands on opportunities for our members to become excited about crafting and the supply donation will help us keep them crafting.”

"As we move forward with Crafting a Better World,” explains Lepley, "we will be considering ways to engage our customers, through their enjoyment of crafting beautiful and useful things, to help those in need in their communities.”

Known as "The Positive Place for Kids,” The Boys & Girls Clubs of America provides guidance-oriented programs on a daily basis for children ages six to 18, conducted by professional staff. The mission of Boys & Girls Clubs is to enable all young people, especially those who need it most, to realize their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.

With 133 stores along the Eastern Seaboard, A.C. Moore Arts & Crafts brings families together for fun through creativity. The company offers a wide range of programs to engage adults and children in crafting, including workshops, Make & Takes and in-store birthday parties. In addition to traditional craft products, A.C. Moore Arts & Crafts is also well-known for its selection of scrap booking, jewelry, floral, yarn, fine art supplies, children’s crafts kits and educational toys, along with ready made frames and custom framing. To locate your local A.C. Moore Arts & Crafts, visit www.acmoore.com.