NEW YORK, Oct. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Aeropostale, Inc. (NYSE: ARO), a mall-based specialty retailer of casual and active apparel for young women and men, today announced that it has partnered with nonprofit One Warm Coat to create its first annual '1 Warm Kid' campaign, a coat drive for kids that will run from October 11, 2010 through October 31, 2010 at P.S. from Aeropostale locations across the country.  In support of the campaign, P.S. from Aeropostale will match every donated coat with a brand new coat up to 100,000.

'1 Warm Kid' aims to raise awareness of the growing numbers of families living in poverty and to collect as many coats as possible, all of which will be donated to local agencies where they will be distributed to families in need this winter.  A growing list of celebrities are lending their support to the campaign and encouraging others to participate.  Those who donate will have the chance to win signed coats from Ellen DeGeneres, Courteney Cox and David Arquette, Cole and Dylan Sprouse ("Suite Life on Deck"), Debby Ryan ("Suite Life on Deck"). Jennette McCurdy ("iCarly"), Devid Henrie ("Wizards of Waverly Place"), David Del Rio ("The Troop"), Tinsel Korey ("Twilight"), and more.

"1 in 5 kids live in poverty. It's startling to learn of how many families struggle to have the basic necessities, such as a coat," said Scott Birnbaum, Senior Vice President of Marketing of Aeropostale, Inc.  "1 Warm Kid will provide warmth to many families this winter and shed light on this growing epidemic."

A driving force behind the success of '1 Warm Kid' is P.S. from Aeropostale's relationship with the schools in its local communities.  Through their partnership with One Warm Coat, more than 1600 schools were invited to participate in the coat drive.  To activate students and entice school participation, P.S. from Aeropostale is awarding prizes to the top three schools that collect the most coats.  First prize school will win $5,000 and a party in their school.  The second and third place schools will win $3,000 and $1,000, respectively.

"We are excited to have the support and encouragement from schools across the country," said One Warm Coat President Sherri Lewis Wood.  "We know school kids can be a powerful force in community service. 1 Warm Kid provides them with an opportunity that is easy to implement and will have an immediate impact in their own community."

In addition to the schools organizing drives, P.S. from Aeropostale welcomes individual donations as well.  As an extra incentive for anyone who donates, P.S. from Aeropostale will give 25% off your next purchase, though no purchase is necessary.

To learn how to get involved, and for more information about '1 Warm Kid', go to www.ps4u.com or www.onewarmkid.com.

About Aeropostale, Inc.

Aeropostale, Inc. is a mall-based, specialty retailer of casual apparel and accessories, principally targeting 14 to 17 year-old young women and men through its Aeropostale® stores and 7 to 12 year-old kids through its P.S. from Aeropostale® stores. The Company provides customers with a focused selection of high-quality, active-oriented, fashion and fashion basic merchandise at compelling values. Aeropostale® maintains control over its proprietary brands by designing, sourcing, marketing and selling all of its own merchandise. Aeropostale® products can only be purchased in its Aeropostale stores and online at www.aeropostale.com. P.S. from Aeropostale® products can be purchased in P.S. from Aeropostale® stores and online at www.ps4u.com. The Company currently operates 901 Aeropostale stores in 49 states and Puerto Rico, 54 Aeropostale stores in Canada and 40 P.S. from Aeropostale stores in 12 states.

SPECIAL NOTE: THIS PRESS RELEASE AND ORAL STATEMENTS MADE FROM TIME TO TIME BY REPRESENTATIVES OF THE COMPANY CONTAIN CERTAIN "FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS" CONCERNING EXPECTATIONS FOR SALES, STORE OPENINGS, GROSS MARGINS, EXPENSES, STRATEGIC DIRECTION AND EARNINGS.  ACTUAL RESULTS MIGHT DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE PROJECTED IN THE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. AMONG THE FACTORS THAT COULD CAUSE ACTUAL RESULTS TO MATERIALLY DIFFER INCLUDE, CHANGES IN THE COMPETITIVE MARKETPLACE, INCLUDING THE INTRODUCTION OF NEW PRODUCTS OR PRICING CHANGES BY OUR COMPETITORS, CHANGES IN THE ECONOMY AND OTHER EVENTS LEADING TO A REDUCTION IN DISCRETIONARY CONSUMER SPENDING; SEASONALITY; RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH CHANGES IN SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ECONOMIC AND OTHER CONDITIONS AND THE POSSIBLE ADVERSE IMPACT OF CHANGES IN IMPORT RESTRICTIONS; RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH UNCERTAINTY RELATING TO THE COMPANY'S ABILITY TO IMPLEMENT ITS GROWTH STRATEGIES, AS WELL AS THE OTHER RISK FACTORS SET FORTH IN THE COMPANY'S FORM 10-K AND QUARTERLY REPORTS ON FORM 10-Q, FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. THE COMPANY UNDERTAKES NO OBLIGATION TO UPDATE OR REVISE ANY FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS TO REFLECT SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

SOURCE Aeropostale, Inc.