Charitable Giving Activities of The Kroger Co.
The Kroger Co. contributed more than $167 million to local communities and nonprofit organizations in 2009 as part of its “Neighbor to Neighbor” charitable giving program. Over the past five years, Kroger has contributed $770 million to charitable causes around the country.
These contributions – which averaged nearly $14 million per month – included donations made by the Kroger Co. family of stores, the Company’s charitable foundation, and funds raised in partnership with customers, vendors and associates through in-store events and cause-marketing promotions. More than 30,000 local schools, hunger relief agencies, youth programs and nonprofit organizations in communities where Kroger operates stores or manufacturing facilities received support from the Company.
Kroger focuses its charitable giving in several key areas: hunger relief; K-12 education; grassroots service organizations; and women’s health. In addition, Kroger supports organizations that promote the advancement of women and minorities, The Salvation Army and American Red Cross.
*Our retail divisions work closely with more than 80 regional food banks affiliated with Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger relief organization. Kroger has partnered with the agency to help fight hunger in America for nearly 30 years.
Last year, the Company donated 50 million pounds of food, valued at $75 million. This is the equivalent of 40 million meals.
In 2008, Kroger implemented a Company-wide program – Perishable Donations Partnership – which enables stores across the Kroger family of banners to donate meat, produce, bakery items and dairy products to food banks that are able to safely handle perishable foods. In 2009, the program provided 36 million pounds of highly nutritious food to local food banks and hunger agencies to feed local families.
*Customers are able to raise funds for the charities that matter to them through their purchases in our stores. More than 30,000 schools, clubs, churches, synagogues and other nonprofit organizations participate. This fundraising program is Kroger’s largest community activity, resulting in contributions of more than $36 million in 2009.
*Our divisions contributed $17 million to local schools and educational initiatives through cash and product donations, foundation grants, and the nonprofit fundraising program.
*Associate donations and in-store fundraising generated $30 million in contributions to support local campaigns that included breast cancer research, disaster relief agencies and children’s hospitals.
*The Kroger Co. Foundation awarded approximately 1,500 grants totaling $5.8 million. Grants are made to organizations within the Company's charitable guidelines that serve the communities where our customers and associates live and work.
*Associates who donate their time to community nonprofit organizations are able to earn small grants for the organizations where they volunteer, through the Dollars for Doers program.
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| *Kroger’s operating divisions sponsor Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation’s Race for the Cure events and the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walks in almost all our major markets. |
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*Customers and associates of Kroger family of stores locations nationwide contributed $11.3 million to the Salvation Army’s annual Red Kettle campaign. All of the funds raised stayed in the community where the donations were made.