NAPERVILLE, IL, (September 17, 2007) -The Heritage YMCA Group serving Aurora, Naperville and Oswego communities is providing more children than ever before with access to quality after school programs with the help of a grant from the JCPenney Afterschool Fund, a charitable organization committed to providing children in need with access to life-enriching after school programs that foster their academic, physical and social development. The grant, which totals almost $11,000, is specifically targeted to help provide financial assistance to youth who are financially unable to participate in an after school program and those who are currently participating in a program but are at risk of leaving due to lack of funds.

"The JCPenney Afterschool Fund is firmly committed to supporting YMCAs and other organizations dedicated to keeping America's children safe and constructively engaged during the after school hours. Children are our greatest asset and together we can help reduce the number of unserved youth, ensuring that students of all backgrounds and income levels are able to benefit from these life-enriching after school programs," stated Tom Beerntsen, President/CEO, Heritage YMCA Group.

In addition to the JCPenney Afterschool Fund grant, the Heritage YMCA will receive 19 gift cards from the J.C. Penney Company to assist with the purchase of school clothing and supplies.

"The YMCA is grateful for the generous support of the JCPenney Afterschool Fund and the J.C. Penney Company," said Jen Bartels, executive director of Y Safe 'n Sound, a before- and after-school program for elementary school aged children. "We strive to serve as many children as possible with high-quality after school programming, and thanks to their commitment, we are able to introduce more students to a world of opportunities by involving them in a safe, affordable program. It is one of the most important programs we offer to hundreds of children each day, as studies show that youth are at a greater risk of involvement in crime, drug abuse and other destructive behaviors between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. each day."

In addition to awarding nearly $11,000 to the Heritage YMCA, the JCPenney Afterschool Fund and the J.C. Penney Company are providing similar grants and gift card donations to 319 other YMCAs around the country. In 2007, gifts to the YMCA from both the JCPenney Afterschool Fund and the J.C. Penney Company will exceed $3.9 million.

"We share the YMCA's dedication to providing safe, meaningful after school programs during the crucial hours when children are out of school," said Jodi Gibson, community relations and after school director for JCPenney. "Nationally there are more than 14.3 million young people not currently active in after school programs who could benefit from these important programs that foster healthy lifestyles, improved social skills and enhanced academic performance.

For more than 50 years, the nation's YMCAs have been engaging children in safe, quality after school programs that supplement children's in-school learning. Today, with more than 10,000 after school programs across the country, the nation's YMCAs are a leading nonprofit resource for parents seeking meaningful and fun afternoon activities for their children. Heritage YMCA branches located in Aurora, Naperville and Oswego, including the Y Safe 'n Sound program offer a variety of program experiences that positively impact self esteem and build future leaders of America.

About The JCPenney Afterschool Fund
The JCPenney Afterschool Fund is a charitable organization committed to providing children in need with access to life-enriching after school programs that foster academic, physical and social development. The JCPenney Afterschool Fund also works to raise awareness of the benefits of after school programming, and is committed to ensuring that every child has access to the world of opportunities that awaits them after school.

About JCPenney
JCPenney is one of America's leading retailers, operating 1,040 department stores throughout the United States and Puerto Rico, as well as one of the largest apparel and home furnishings sites on the internet, www.jcp.com, and the nation's largest general merchandise catalog business. Through these integrated channels, JCPenney offers a wide array of national, private, and exclusive brands which reflect the Company's commitment to providing customers with style and quality at a smart price. Traded as "JCP" on the New York Stock Exchange, the Company posted revenue of $19.9 billion in 2006 and is executing its strategic plan to be the growth leader in the retail industry. Key to this strategy is JCPenney's "Every Day Matters" brand positioning, intended to generate deeper, more emotionally driven relationships with customers by fully engaging the Company's 155,000 associates to offer encouragement, provide ideas, inspire customers every time they shop with JCPenney.

About the YMCA
The Heritage YMCA serves almost 20,000 members across the Aurora, Naperville, and Oswego communities. The YMCA provides positive spirit, mind, and body wellness experiences to members and 1000s of community participants. Four core values are the foundation of all program experiences; Caring, Honesty, Respect and Responsibility. The business is about instilling values in children, changing lives, lifting self esteem, and helping children develop hopes and dreams for tomorrow. The YMCA puts heroes in the lives of every child everyday in every program, including the Y Safe 'n Sound program. Additionally, the YMCA is committed to serving all children and families without regard to financial ability. No child is turned away from the YMCA because of an inability to pay the cost of participation. The YMCA Strong Kids Campaign and support from the community makes this commitment possible. The Heritage YMCA mission is "To enhance the quality of life for families through programs reflecting Christian principles to build healthy spirit, mind and body for all."

The nation's 2,663 YMCAs serve 20.2 million people each year, including 9.4 million children under the age of 18. YMCAs unite men, women and children of all ages, faiths, backgrounds, abilities and income levels. From urban areas to small towns, YMCAs are a place for people to belong, serving America's children, families and communities for nearly 160 years by "building healthy spirit, mind and body for all." Visit www.ymca.net