Ahold USA Reveals $9M Commitment to Fight Child Hunger
Ahold USA has introduced a three-year initiative to distribute $9 million in Fighting Child Hunger grants from its Our Family Foundation. Last year, the Carlisle, Pa.-based company donated nearly $67 million through its Our Family Foundation; its Stop & Shop, Giant/Martin’s and Giant-Landover divisions; and customer, vendor and associate contributions to area organizations dedicated to fighting hunger, improving the lives of children, and building healthy communities. Hunger-related donations accounted for 46 percent, or $31 million, of the total 2012 donations.
As part of Ahold USA’s latest giving initiative, Fighting Child Hunger grants have gone to 21 regional food banks served by the company’s retail divisions. Each grant recipient submitted a proposal late last year detailing how a grant could best be used to feed more children. The grants target communities with significant need, to provide healthy meals to children via child care, after-school programs, mobile pantries and summer programs, in addition to other, more innovative approaches.
“Grocery stores are among the top donors to Feeding America food banks nationwide, and these grants will take our core missions of hunger relief and helping children a step further by raising awareness for the issue and feeding more children in the local communities we serve,” said Bhavdeep Singh, EVP, operations and chair of Our Family Foundation. “Companywide, Ahold USA and our retail divisions will continue our commitment to donating cash, product and volunteer time, delivering on a call to action to do everything we can to alleviate childhood hunger.”
Further supplementing the core Fighting Child Hunger grants are volunteer grants contributing to regional food banks based on associate volunteering.
Operating nearly 775 supermarkets with about 115,000 associates in 14 states and the District of Columbia, along with e-grocer Peapod, Ahold USA is part of Amsterdam-based international retail conglomerate Ahold.