BJ’s Kicks Off Adopt-A-School

BJ's Wholesale Club Inc. has joined forces with 215 schools through its annual Adopt-A-School program. At the start of each school year, each of the retailer’s clubs and distribution centers teams up with a local school to help improve existing curricula.

Adopt-A-School participants get a one-time $500 donation in check or club gift card form. The donation can be used for discretionary programs like field trips, special events and reading programs. Participating schools also receive free BJ's membership.

"Helping to provide kids with exciting learning opportunities like meeting penguins up close, exploring life-size models of dinosaurs and reading the best of Dr. Seuss are some of the many reasons why we support local schools," observed Jessica Newman, assistant VP of community affairs and communications at Westborough, Mass.-based BJ's, which operates 203 clubs and 117 gas stations in 15 eastern states. "We continue to run BJ's Adopt-A-School program year after year because principals and teachers tell us that our partnership provides them with necessary supplies and event funding that they otherwise may not have."

Now in its 19th year, Adopt-A-School has so far provided $1.7 million in funding to thousands of schools. Other recently launched school programs at retail include Price Chopper's Tools for Schools and Publix's Tools for Back to School.