California Grocers Donate Nearly $400 Million Per Year
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Supermarkets in California contributed nearly $400 million in monetary aid, food donations, and volunteer hours in 2004, according to a new study released by The California Grocers Association (CGA)
"The results of this study reveal what we've always known -- the California grocery industry plays a major role in helping needy populations, not only in times of emergency, but every day," said CGA and CGA Foundation president Peter Larkin.
Nearly all of the charitable contributions came in the form of monetary and in-kind contributions, totaling over $318 million. Just under 60 percent of that figure represented monetary contributions and just over 40 percent represented in-kind donations.
More than 60 percent of all donations went toward hunger relief. Donations to education made up 16.4 percent and contributions toward health, safety, human services and nutrition accounted for 11 percent of the total. Giving in other forms, including community donations and employee volunteerism, made up the other 12.6 percent.
The study determined that the grocery industry in California donated a minimum of $374 million in 2004 alone.
"We have worked with the CGA and its members for over 20 years and I am fully convinced that the real number is much higher," said Mark Lowry, director of the Orange County Food Banks and immediate past president of the California Association of Food Banks. "Over the years CGA members have repeatedly shown their dedication to helping the community by donating money, food, and time."
"I think we all have to thank the companies who participated in this survey," said Tom Arnold, director of the Food Industry Management program at the Marshall School of Business at USC, and author of the study. "It was a Herculean challenge for many to categorize their contributions. Most had never been asked to quantify their donations, and it sometimes took days or weeks for them to report out their efforts."
The Food Industry Charitable Contribution Survey, which was published by the University of Southern California Marshall School of Business Food Industry Management Program, was funded by the CGA Education Foundation, representing the Foundation's first step in supporting industry research projects.
A summary of the report is available at www.cagrocers.com.
"The results of this study reveal what we've always known -- the California grocery industry plays a major role in helping needy populations, not only in times of emergency, but every day," said CGA and CGA Foundation president Peter Larkin.
Nearly all of the charitable contributions came in the form of monetary and in-kind contributions, totaling over $318 million. Just under 60 percent of that figure represented monetary contributions and just over 40 percent represented in-kind donations.
More than 60 percent of all donations went toward hunger relief. Donations to education made up 16.4 percent and contributions toward health, safety, human services and nutrition accounted for 11 percent of the total. Giving in other forms, including community donations and employee volunteerism, made up the other 12.6 percent.
The study determined that the grocery industry in California donated a minimum of $374 million in 2004 alone.
"We have worked with the CGA and its members for over 20 years and I am fully convinced that the real number is much higher," said Mark Lowry, director of the Orange County Food Banks and immediate past president of the California Association of Food Banks. "Over the years CGA members have repeatedly shown their dedication to helping the community by donating money, food, and time."
"I think we all have to thank the companies who participated in this survey," said Tom Arnold, director of the Food Industry Management program at the Marshall School of Business at USC, and author of the study. "It was a Herculean challenge for many to categorize their contributions. Most had never been asked to quantify their donations, and it sometimes took days or weeks for them to report out their efforts."
The Food Industry Charitable Contribution Survey, which was published by the University of Southern California Marshall School of Business Food Industry Management Program, was funded by the CGA Education Foundation, representing the Foundation's first step in supporting industry research projects.
A summary of the report is available at www.cagrocers.com.