Ralphs, Food 4 Less Donate to SoCal Children's Hospitals

The holidays just came early for five of the largest children's hospitals in Southern California: Ralphs and Food 4 Less are presenting a combined a combined $125,000 holiday gift to facilities in communities served by their stores in the region.

The grants are being made through the chains' philanthropic organizations, the Ralphs Fund and the Food 4 Less Fund.

Children's Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA), Children's Hospital of Orange County (CHOC), Loma Linda University Children's Hospital, Miller Children's Hospital at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center, and Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego will each receive a $25,000 grant from the supermarket chains.

"Ralphs and Food 4 Less believe strongly in giving back to the community," noted Ralphs Supermarkets president Mike Donnelly. "We cannot think of a better way to invest in our communities this holiday season than by giving families and children hope through our support of the innovative work these hospitals are doing to provide world-class medical care for children."

"Our ability to support the great work being done by our local children's hospitals is a direct result of the dedication of our team members and the generosity of our customers," said Food 4 Less president Dave Hirz.

Since 2005, Ralphs and Food 4 Less have given over $800,000 to Southern California children's hospitals.

Last year Ralphs and Food 4 Less gave over $12 million in cash and in-kind donations to organizations devoted to women's and children's health, K-12 education, fighting hunger, celebrating multiculturalism, and disaster relief.

Los Angeles-based Ralphs and Food 4 Less operate over 400 conventional and warehouse-style supermarkets in California, Southern Nevada, Illinois, and Indiana. Ralphs and Food 4 Less are divisions of The Kroger Co., which is based in Cincinnati.