• by Sarah Mahoney  @mahoney_sarah, November 11, 2011

JCPenney is welcoming the holiday season with a handful of new digital initiatives, which it hopes will bolster sales both online and at its 1,100 stores.

First, the Plano, Tex.-based retailer says it will expand its popular Salvation Army Angel program, an online charitable effort.

On Thanksgiving Day, every person who adopts a Salvation Army Angel at jcp.com generates a $50 donation, up to $400,000. And every person who uses Foursquare to check in at a JC Penney store on Black Friday triggers a $25 donation, up to $100,000.

And it’s now possible for groups and companies to participate, adopting up multiple angels at once. “We wanted to make it easier for companies and groups to participate, so now groups can adopt up to 10 or more angels,” a spokesperson says. “Over the past two years, we’ve had more than 100,000 adoptions, and we’re hoping to add even more by expanding the program this way. Supporters now have the means to come together and significantly impact more families in need.” She says the company will air TV ads from Saatchi & Saatchi, as well as online banners, to support the effort.

This year, it’s also supporting the Angel Giving Tree program with a mobile feature, as well as an iPad app. The program allows people to adopt an Angel anywhere in the U.S.; gifts purchased through jcp.com get free shipping from UPS.

The company is also introducing QR Santa Tags, which allow shoppers to record a personalized voice message for gift recipients. Shoppers scan the tags, which will be available in its stores beginning Black Friday, record their personal gift message, and then attach the tag to the gift. The recipient then uses the code to retrieve the gift message. The tags are free with purchase.