Sears Recognizes UK’s 'Unsung Heroes'

LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 4, 2011) – The Sears Blue Tool Crew launched its “Do It Together” (DIT) program by recognizing a University of Kentucky fraternity, Phi Kappa Tau, as a group of national Unsung Heroes who use their tools and talents for the greater good of the community.

“The Sears Blue Tool Crew Do It Together movement is about commitment, community and creating positive change in these challenging times,” said Bill Kiss, chief marketing officer of Tools and Hardware for Sears Holdings. “When we learned that the members of Phi Kappa Tau at the University of Kentucky were dedicated to community service – even when UK is in the biggest college basketball tournament of the year – it was a logical choice to reward them and an ideal way to launch the Do It Together program.”

DIT is the national expansion of the inspirational “Unsung Heroes: Dads Making a Difference” Father’s Day initiative that recognized dads across the country in 2010.  The program garnered so much interest in the first year that the company’s leadership felt it warranted a larger-scale effort beyond only fathers. The first winner, Charles Muller, converted a run-down building into a center to feed children living below poverty levels in Albany, N.Y.

The Sears Blue Tool Crew DIT team came to Lexington last week to join with the members of the UK chapter of Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity to donate the tools and time to help refresh the local Hope Center by building picnic tables, installing shelves, painting and generally getting the facility ready for the spring.

“The Hope Center was honored that Sears Tools and Phi Kappa Tau chose to work with our organization,” said Heather Mitchell, Hope Center director of volunteer relations. “We rely heavily on community support, and the time and tools that were donated by these groups will make a huge impact on our center.”

But as the fraternity brothers labored for the community at the Hope Center, a surprise awaited them back at their house. While members of the Sears Blue Tool Crew DIT Team and Phi Kappa Tau were out completing the Hope Center project, the rest of the Sears team were working with Back Construction, Inc. to remodel the Phi Kappa Tau basement into the ultimate sports-viewing room as thanks for their role as unsung heroes.

To help reveal the fraternity house reward and celebrate their contribution to the community, the Sears Blue Tool Crew DIT Team enlisted the help of ESPN SportsNation program co-host Michelle Beadle to help with last week’s big reveal. About 30 Phi Kappa Tau fraternity men gathered for the celebratory event as Sears officials introduced Beadle, a surprise special guest, to give them a tour of the new amenities in their basement, including three flat screen televisions, new couches, a new pool table, new flooring, a drum set, and UK memorabilia on the walls.

“I was thrilled to be a part of the launch of this great program with Sears because it really highlights the importance of community service and puts the spotlight on individuals and groups who dedicate their time and tools to help others in the community,” said Beadle. “The members of Phi Kappa Tau make community service a big priority and it was great to be able to help reward them.”

 The DIT makeover of Phi Kappa Tau’s house is the first installment in the Sears Blue Tool Crew’s DIT campaign, an ongoing effort to recognize individuals and organizations that are using their tools and talents to benefit the community. 

To read more about the Sears Blue Tool Crew’s visit to UK and the Phi Kappa Tau’s project at the Hope Center, visit its Facebook at www.facebook.com/SearsBlueToolCrew or see video at www.youtube.com/SearsBlueToolCrew .