WINSTON-SALEM, N.C., Jan 20, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) --

HanesBrands announced today that the company and its employees exceeded their goal and raised $2.06 million for the United Way of Forsyth County during its 2010 year-end campaign. The successful campaign capped a decade of record fundraising that has relied on the extraordinary generosity of Hanes' 2,500 Forsyth County employees and proceeds from the company's highly-successful community product sales.

"We surpassed our $2 million goal by $56,000 because of the unwavering support of Hanes employees," said Chris Fox, Hanes vice president of corporate social responsibility and the company's 2010 United Way campaign chairman. "Our employees' generosity - year after year - is a true testament to how much they care about their community, how important they are to the community, and how committed they are to helping United Way provide critical services to those in need."

Over the past decade, Hanes and its employees have been the largest corporate contributors to the United Way of Forsyth County, donating more than $23 million to support community agencies and programs.

Hanes and its employees donate more than money to benefit United Way agencies. To kickoff the company's 2010 campaign on Oct. 1, Hanes granted paid time off to more than 300 headquarters employees to volunteer for a Day of Caring at seven area United Way beneficiaries:

• YMCA Camp Hanes - Builta bench and a youth dodge ball pit, and spruced up the walking and hiking trails
• Community Care Center - Paintedpatient care rooms
• The Children's Home - Redesigned the clothing room and painted the entrance to the home
• Second Harvest Food Bank - Sorted food
• Goodwill - Organized the Success Outfitters donation room, where men and women with limited means can obtain clothing for job interviews
• Family Services - Landscaped the grounds
• Clemmons Elementary School - Built a garden

[For related photos and video, see the interactive online news release at http://smnr.akamediainc.com/Hanesbrands_Responsibility.]

Employee volunteers also staged and ran the company's 2010 product sales. The company held three sales in October - one for employees and two for the Forsyth County community - that generated more than $380,000 toward the company's overall campaign goal. The much-anticipated sales drew thousands of shoppers from around the Triad area and even from other states seeking bargains to benefit a worthy cause.

"Our community product sales have been a major highlight of our United Way campaign over the past decade," Fox said. "Hanes donates multiple tractor-trailer loads of apparel, and the community gets to buy Hanes, Champion, Playtex, Bali and other brands at incredible prices. All the proceeds go to benefit United Way."

The company's first community sale in 2001 raised approximately $12,000, and the annual events have grown in scope and scale to meet community demand.

"We are extremely grateful for the leadership that Hanes gives our community. Their campaign just seems to get better every year," said Ron Drago, president and CEO, United Way of Forsyth County. "Hanes employees really went the extra mile in 2010 with three product sales and their Day of Caring outreach."

The United Way of North Carolina honored Hanes with the 2009 Corporate Spirit award, recognizing the company for having the best campaign for its size in North Carolina. The company also won the Employee Spirit award in 2006 and 2008.

Hanesbrands Inc.

HanesBrands (NYSE:HBI) is a leading marketer of everyday basic apparel under some of the world's strongest apparel brands, including Hanes, Champion, Playtex, Bali, JMS/Just My Size, barely there, Wonderbra and Gear For Sports. The company sells T-shirts, bras, panties, men's underwear, children's underwear, socks, hosiery, casualwear and activewear produced in the company's low-cost global supply chain. Hanes has approximately 50,000 employees in more than 25 countries and takes pride in its strong reputation for ethical business practices. More information about the company and its corporate social responsibility initiatives, including environmental, social compliance and community improvement achievements, may be found on the Hanes corporate website at www.hanesbrands.com. Hanes is a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 2010 Energy Star Partner of the Year and ranks No. 91 on Newsweek magazine's Top 500 greenest U.S. company rankings.

SOURCE: Hanesbrands Inc.

Hanesbrands Inc.
Matt Hall, 336-519-3386