Big Y Raising Funds to Fight Breast Cancer

During Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, all Big Y Supermarkets are donating a portion of the proceeds from their produce and floral departments, as well as from select private-brand products throughout the store, to more than 20 local breast cancer support groups throughout the regional grocery chain’s market area.

For the length of the Partners of Hope campaign, specially marked "pink" products and promotions will be available in almost every store department. For every package of Big Y, Top Care, Full Circle, World Classics Trading Company, PAWS Premium pet products, Academix stationery, Electrix electrical supplies and Domestix household brand products, the grocer will donate 5 cents between Oct. 9 and Oct. 15. During the entire month, the Big Y Butcher Shop will contribute 10 cents from every pound of All Natural Angus Beef and Big Y Smart Chicken to breast cancer research, while Big Y Pharmacies will donate $5 to the same cause for every transferred prescription filled. The chain's stores are also carrying many pink-packaged national-brand items, whose manufacturers are similarly donating a portion of their proceeds to breast cancer research.

Displaying Breast Cancer Support

Further, Big Y's pink reusable, eco-friendly shopping bag promoting breast cancer awareness is on sale and every store will offer Partners of Hope pink ribbons for $1 through Oct. 30 to generate additional proceeds for local breast cancer organizations.

Additionally, Big Y’s dietitians, Carrie Taylor and Andrea Samson, will devote a portion of their fall newsletter to cancer prevention, and customers can look for "Living Well Eating Smart" displays throughout the chain's stores.

"Breast cancer affects thousands of women and many men each year," noted Big Y CEO Donald D'Amour. "We hope that this initiative will not only promote breast cancer awareness, but also save lives through early detection and care."

Since 2007, Big Y's Partners of Hope has raised nearly $1.1 million dollars for breast cancer research and awareness. Last year, the family-owned and -operated grocer raised close to $218,000.

Springfield, Mass.-based Big Y, one of the largest independently owned supermarket chains in New England, operates 63 stores throughout Connecticut and Massachusetts, with more than 10,000 employees.