Albertsons Raises $5M to End Childhood Hunger

The Albertsons Cos. Inc. and the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF) have raised more than $5 million through in-store donations during September for Hunger Is, a charitable initiative designed to raise awareness and funds to end childhood hunger in America.

This year’s Hungry for More campaign focused on the importance of daily breakfast for children and raised donations from customers in more than 2,300 Albertsons Cos. stores, including Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s, Acme Markets, Tom Thumb, Randalls, United Supermarkets, Pavilions, Star Market, Haggen and Carrs. With these funds, the campaign will meet its goal of providing 5 million more breakfasts this year to children in need. More than $18 million has been raised since the campaign’s inception in 2014, supporting local hunger-based programs throughout the country.

Film and stage actress Viola Davis, a Hunger Is ambassador, continues to publicly share her personal story about growing up hungry and to lend her voice to the initiative's public service announcements that run on television, radio, print, out-of-home and digital media outlets. The new Hungry for More PSAs, featuring Davis, launched in September.

Funds raised during the Hunger Is campaigns go back to local communities in the form of grants for hunger-relief programs. This fall, Hunger Is will invite regional and community-based programs in Albertsons Cos.' operating areas across the United States to submit grant proposals. The company will award grants to programs with the potential to alleviate childhood hunger.

Since its inception, Hunger Is has awarded grants to more than 250 programs addressing childhood hunger. Albertsons Cos.' store divisions help select grant recipients in their region, in concert with the Hunger Is Advocacy Committee, which comprises leaders from various respected U.S. hunger advocacy organizations. The committee provides guidance in defining priorities and addressing needs, and makes funding recommendations for approval by the Albertsons Cos. Foundation and the board of directors of Los Angeles-based EIF.

Boise, Idaho-based Albertsons Cos. Inc. operates stores across 35 states and Washington, D.C., under 19 banners, including Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw's, Acme, Tom Thumb, Randalls, United Supermarkets, Pavilions, Star Market, Haggen and Carrs.