Price Chopper Wields ‘Tools for Schools’
Price Chopper has rolled out its 17th annual "Tools for Schools" campaign to all of its stores. New this year to the program, the Million Point Challenge: Family Meal Recipe Contest enables schools to submit Family Meal Favorite recipes.
The top five recipes will be voted on by consumers for the title of Fan Favorite, earning 250,000 bonus points. The chefs from the chain's new foodservice-oriented concept, Market Bistro by Price Chopper, will choose the grand-prize-winning recipe, whose school will receive 1 million bonus points toward educational equipment.
"Tools for Schools has become a highly anticipated element of the annual back-to-school season," noted Mona Golub, VP of public relations and consumer services at Schenectady, N.Y.-based Price Chopper. "This program presents an opportunity for entire communities to come together to earn points for valuable educational, technological and extracurricular equipment that may otherwise not be affordable. The addition of the Million Point Challenge encourages people to think about how the health of our communities can be improved with a delicious meal and conversation around the dinner table."
Through March 28, 2015, shoppers can support area schools by using Price Chopper's AdvantEdge Card and joining the program. Points earned from the program will allow schools to purchase new equipment and education materials, including supplies, musical instruments, microscopes, computer software, furniture and playground equipment.
School Supply Drive
Price Chopper customers can also take part in the Tools for Schools supply drive running from Aug. 3 through Sept. 13. For the sixth consecutive year, the grocer has teamed with the Salvation Army to collect and distribute school supplies to needy students. Shoppers can buy items from the Price Chopper Back to School Display and place them in designated bins at the front of the stores. The items will go to teachers and students when the school year starts.
Schools can additionally win prizes based on the greatest volume earned and the greatest value-to-student ratio. Bonus points as well as other incentives will help schools add to their overall total. As a special incentive this year, the top 50 schools will each get a Price Chopper gift card worth $250.
Since it first began, Tools for Schools has raised more than $11 million dollars for schools in Price Chopper's six-state market area. This year, participating schools will earn a share of more than $500,000 in equipment and materials, aided by the chain's shoppers and associates.
To earn points for the schools of their choice, shoppers can visit the guest services desk or enroll their AdvantEdge Card online. One point will be awarded for each purchased item, while double points will be given for the purchase of select Price Chopper and Central Market Classics brand products.
The Golub Corp. owns and operates 134 Price Chopper stores in New York, Vermont, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Golub's 22,000 employees collectively own more than 51 percent of the company's privately held stock, making it one of the nation's largest privately held corporations that's predominantly employee-owned.