Jo-Ann Stores Inc., American Sewing Guild Partner to Honor September 11 Victims, Heroes

		JO-ANN STORES DONATE AMERICAN SPIRIT QUILTS TO FIRE STATIONS Commemorative, limited-edition American Spirit(TM) quilts were donated to hundreds of fire stations across the country to honor September 11 victims and heroes. The quilt was created exclusively for Jo-Ann Stores Inc. by Jo-Ann Stores team member Cindy Casciato, whose husband is a retired firefighter. The design is adorned with an excerpt from President George W. Bush's national address shortly after the attack. (PRNewsFoto)[AS] HUDSON, OH USA

HUDSON, Ohio, Sept. 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Jo-Ann Stores Inc. (NYSE: JASA; JASB) donated hundreds of American Spirit(TM) quilts to fire stations across America during the first week of September. In a national partnership with American Sewing Guild (ASG) chapters, Jo-Ann Stores and ASG members created commemorative quilts to honor September 11 victims and heroes, and local emergency personnel who serve their communities each day. (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020918/MNWFNS1 ) The American Spirit(TM) commemorative, limited-edition quilt was created exclusively for Jo-Ann Stores Inc. by Jo-Ann Stores team member Cindy Casciato. The wife of a retired firefighter, Casciato wanted to express her feelings in the wake of the September 11 tragedy so she created the original quilt as a gift for her husband. Realizing that many other women may want to use their creative talents as an outlet for commemorating the tragedy, Casciato got the idea to create a quilt kit that could be offered to quilters nationwide. At Casciato's suggestion, Jo-Ann Stores Inc. created a limited-edition quilt kit from her original design and offered it to Jo-Ann stores guests beginning in April 2002. The company also partnered with local ASG chapters across the country to sew quilts to be displayed at local Jo-Ann Stores and then donated to area firehouses. The quilt design depicts four stylized American flags on background fields of cream and blue. Phrases from President George W. Bush's national address shortly after the tragedy are featured above each flag: "We will not falter. We will not fear. We will not fail. We will not forget." Centered at the bottom of the quilt is "September 11, 2001" -- the date solemnly etched in the collective memory of Americans and the world. About Jo-Ann Stores Inc. Based in Hudson, Ohio, Jo-Ann Stores was founded as a single retail store in 1943 and currently operates 875 Jo-Ann Fabrics and Crafts traditional stores in 49 states and 70 Jo-Ann etc superstores in 16 states. Jo-Ann Stores offers a wide assortment of merchandise and expertise to people who enjoy expressing themselves through sewing, crafting and home decorating. The company offers customers the choice, quality, style and support needed to pursue the passion of creating beautiful things. For more information, visit http://www.joann.com or call toll-free 1-877-465-6266.