Burlington, NJ - Burlington Coat Factory congratulates the winners of the "Back to School IBM ThinkPad Giveaway". The national retailer announced in July 2002 that it would be giving away 10 IBM ThinkPad Notebook Computers, each valued at approximately $1,250.00. Ten winners were randomly chosen from thousands of entries that poured in from across the country.

Cliff Bradshaw, a winner from Phoenix was elated to find out he'd won, "It will really come in handy, since I now share our home computer with five other people - mom, dad, and three younger sisters." Bradshaw plans to use his computer for homework and games. Joyce Springer, a Ft. Myers winner, is also excited about the possibilities her new computer presents; "I was stunned when I received the notice of winning. What a thrill!"

"We were overwhelmed by the response to the contest," said Susan Quinn, Director of Marketing and Advertising for Burlington Coat Factory. "We decided to choose the notebook computers because they're a great tool for students of any age. Our winners range in age from eleven to seventy-five."

The contest was open to all lawful residents of the United States, excluding employees of Burlington Coat Factory and its affiliates. Interested participants were required to complete an entry form and submit it either in a Burlington Coat Factory location or to the company's corporate headquarters via US Mail on or before the deadline in September. Winners were notified by mail.

The winners are:

Burlington Coat Factory is one of the nation's leading off-price retailer of first quality apparel, shoes and accessories for the entire family, linens and home décor, and baby clothing and merchandise. Burlington Coat Factory operates over 320 stores, including subsidiaries, in 42 states.