The awards, given annually to member companies for their ongoing work to support and enhance their communities, were formally presented at the 2005 FMI Show being held in Chicago.
Now in its ninth year, the awards program recognizes companies that contribute significantly to the neighborhoods they serve in the areas of youth development, hunger relief, health and wellness, and urban economic development.
“Supermarkets continue to be driving forces in their communities,” said Henry Hailstock, FMI’s director of diversity and community relations. “This year’s winners of the Neighborhood Partnership Awards are fine examples of the profound difference supermarkets make every day through their outreach, commitment, sense of responsibility and awareness of community needs.”
Food Lion’s Children’s Miracle Network Campaign has raised approximately $17 million since 1991 for the Children’s Miracle Network, a system of children’s hospitals that provides state-of-the-art, lifesaving care to children year round. During the 2004 campaign, the company’s stores raised and donated $2.1 million to the network in Food Lion’s operating area. This money came not as a giant gift from its corporate offices, but from donations collected at every Food Lion store, made possible in large part to the creative fundraising efforts of store associates.
Hunger relief is the primary community focus of C&S Wholesale Grocers Inc., whose winning program takes a multi-pronged approach. The company’s support takes shape through donations of food to state or regional food banks that are a part of the America’s Second Harvest Network; major grants to America’s Second Harvest Food Banks for general operations, special projects and equipment; grants for hunger leadership programs to inspire people in C&S communities to become new leaders in hunger relief; United Way donations from associates and a corporate match to nearly 50 United Ways from coast-to-coast; mini grants made by teams of non-executive associates in C&S warehouses to local non-profits on the frontlines in the fight against hunger; and employee volunteerism with a special focus on helping food banks and other hunger-related organizations.
Ukrop’s “Share A Holiday Meal” program earned recognition for its efforts to support area families in need during the holiday season through the local Christmas Mother programs and the Salvation Army Christmas Assistance program. Ukrop’s invited its customers to participate in Share A Meal by donating $5, $10 or $20 toward the purchase of holiday meals for local families in need from November 1-27, 2004. Customers could make the donation at checkout by adding their donation to their total purchase. Ukrop’s enlisted the help of various vendors to support the program’s television efforts, and its banking partner, First Market Bank, made a $10,000 contribution. Ukrop’s donated $10,000 and offered a 10 percent discount to Christmas Mothers and the Salvation Army for the purchase of gift cards for distribution. All together, $56,060 was raised through the program in 2004.
Wakerfern Food Corporation’s “ShopRite Partners in Caring” program was recognized for its year-round work with more than 70 food industry manufacturers to provide support to more than 1,000 qualified agencies that fight hunger in the communities that ShopRite serves. Every year, the program donates $2 million to support emergency food pantries, homeless shelters, child care and after-school programs, battered women’s shelters, senior citizen programs, programs for the disabled and other agencies that provide to those in need. To date, more than $9 million has been donated. In addition to financial support, the company has brought the issue of hunger to the forefront through the volunteer efforts of its associates and the creation of various community outreach vehicles.
White Rose Food’s “Programa de Buenos Vecinos (Good Neighbor)” program encompasses a full year of constant ethnic-oriented activity directed to establishing its stores as being sensitive to the needs of family, community and children. Its participation was developed as a partnership linking White Rose Food and the program sponsors – key manufacturers. The program met the objectives of developing awareness of family and community through events such as its 3 Kings Celebration, Black History Month programs, Children’s Health Fairs, Mother’s Recognition Program and summer camp program. For 2005, White Rose Food has expanded program sponsorships by 25 percent.
The 2005 Neighborhood Partnership Awards program is sponsored by ConAgra Foods and Kellogg.
For more information on the Neighborhood Partnership Awards, contact Nadine Bartholomew at (202) 220-0664 or nbartholomew@fmi.org.
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