J. Jill Hosts Second Annual 'Nature of Compassion' Tee Shirt Design Contest Supporting Homeless Women

QUINCY, Mass., April 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Building on the success of last year's debut, J. Jill is hosting its second annual "Nature of Compassion" Tee Shirt Design Contest. Starting April 30th through May 28th, aspiring artists are invited to submit their original artwork depicting inspirational elements of nature to J. Jill. A team of J. Jill designers and executives will select 10 finalists and then customers will choose their favorite designs by voting online at http://www.jjill.com/ or in any J. Jill store nationwide. The winning design will be featured on a long-sleeve tee that will be sold in all J. Jill channels (stores, catalog and online) this holiday season. J. Jill will donate 100% of the profits from the sale of this limited-edition tee to the J. Jill Compassion Fund to help poor and homeless women.

Last year more than 2,500 people entered the Nature of Compassion contest and over 120,000 customers participated in selecting the top design. The winning design was submitted by Rebecca Mueller from Bettendorf, Iowa, and featured images of four dried wild violets that she collected in her Iowa hometown. Her Tower Flowers design was inspired by a lifelong love of creating cards and stationery for her friends and family using dried flowers.

Consumers can submit original tee shirt designs for the 2007 Nature of Compassion contest in J. Jill stores or online at http://www.jjill.com/ starting April 30th through May 28th. Submitted designs should contain elements of nature and can be created with any medium, except photography. J. Jill will select 10 finalists and display them online and in its retail stores from July 16th to July 31st so customers can cast their votes for their favorite designs. The winning design will be announced on or by November 1st and available for sale beginning in November through the holiday gift-giving season for $24.50.

Each of the nine finalists will receive a $500 shopping spree at J. Jill. The grand prize winner will receive a $1,000 J. Jill shopping spree, as well as an artistic getaway for herself and a friend to Artista Creative Safaris for Women in Carmel-By-The-Sea, Calif. (http://www.artistacreative.com/)

Contest is open to anyone residing in the continental U.S., excluding professional artists. For official contest rules or to find a J. Jill store near you, visit http://www.jjill.com/.

About The J. Jill Compassion Fund

The J. Jill Compassion Fund, a donor-advised fund at the Boston Foundation, is committed to providing support to community-based organizations that help poor and homeless women become self-sufficient. J. Jill Compassion Fund grants have supported more than 20 organizations that help women to empower themselves and change their lives. The J. Jill Compassion Fund was established in June 2002 and since its inception, J. Jill has donated more than $1.2 million to the Fund and recommended more than $700,000 in grants.

About J. Jill

Established in 1987 as DM Management, J. Jill is a national specialty retailer, cataloger and e-tailer of women's clothing and accessories with over 200 stores throughout the U.S. J. Jill became a wholly owned subsidiary of The Talbots, Inc. in May 2006. J. Jill offers clothing service and a serene shopping environment for the 35+ woman who takes care of everyone else. J. Jill stores carry relaxed weekend wear and casual business attire in a spectrum of sizes. The clothes are marked by fluid lines, feel-good fabrics, artful styling details and a cohesive color palette culled from nature. For more information visit http://www.thetalbotsinc.com/ (corporate information) or http://www.jjill.com/ (online shopping site).