JCPenney Receives Top Rating on Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index for...

JCPenney Receives Top Rating on Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index for Second Consecutive Year

Company Recognized for its Commitment to Inclusion and Diversity
PLANO, Texas--(Business Wire)--
J. C. Penney Company, Inc. (NYSE: JCP) has announced that it has
earned a perfect score of 100 percent on the 2009 Corporate Equality
Index, released by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) today. This is the
second consecutive year that the retailer has received a top rating on
the index which measures employers on their treatment of gay, lesbian,
bisexual and transgender employees and consumers. As part of this
recognition, JCPenney will again be featured on HRC's "Best Places to
Work" list as well as the organization's annual "Buying Guide for
Equality."

"We are extremely honored that the Human Rights Campaign has again
recognized our Company's efforts to build an inclusive and diverse
environment for our Associates and Customers," said Wilson Dunnington,
vice president and director of inclusion and diversity at JCPenney.
"Maintaining a perfect score demonstrates our ongoing commitment to
providing Company programs and policies that address the needs of our
entire work force, which is critical to achieving our goal of becoming
the preferred shopping choice for Middle America."

Since it was launched in 2002, the Corporate Equality Index has
become the standard by which companies are measured in regard to GLBT
diversity and inclusion. The Index, which this year rated 583
businesses in total, evaluates GLBT-related policies and practices
including non-discrimination policies, transgender health benefits and
domestic partner benefits.

"The 2009 Corporate Equality Index shows that corporate America
understands that a diverse workforce is critical to remaining
successful and competitive," said HRC Foundation President Joe
Solmonese. "In the absence of a federal law that prohibits workplace
discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity or
expression, it is up to employers to take the lead and implement
policies that ensure all their employees are protected."

The Human Rights Campaign is America's largest civil rights
organization working to achieve gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender
equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end
discrimination against GLBT citizens and realize a nation that
achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.

For more information on the 2009 Corporate Equality Index, visit
www.hrc.org/cei.

About JCPenney

JCPenney is one of America's leading retailers, operating 1,083
department stores throughout the United States and Puerto Rico, as
well as one of the largest apparel and home furnishing sites on the
Internet, jcp.com, and the nation's largest general merchandise
catalog business. Through these integrated channels, JCPenney offers a
wide array of national, private and exclusive brands which reflect the
Company's commitment to providing customers with style and quality at
a smart price. Traded as "JCP" on the New York Stock Exchange, the
Company posted revenue of $19.9 billion in 2007 and is executing its
strategic plan to be the growth leader in the retail industry. Key to
this strategy is JCPenney's "Every Day Matters" brand positioning,
intended to generate deeper, more emotionally driven relationships
with customers by fully engaging the Company's 155,000 Associates to
offer encouragement, provide ideas and inspire customers every time
they shop with JCPenney.

J. C. Penney Company, Inc.
Media Relations
Darcie Brossart or Quinton Crenshaw, 972-431-3400
jcpcorpcomm@jcpenney.com
or
Investor Relations
Phil Sanchez, 972-431-5575
psanc3@jcpenney.com
or
Kristin Hays, 972-431-1261
klhays@jcpenney.com

Copyright Business Wire 2008