Winners of Neighborhood Partnership Awards Revealed at FMI Show
CHICAGO -- At the 2005 FMI Show here the Food Marketing Institute has awarded the 2005 Neighborhood Partnership Awards (NPA) to five companies: Food Lion, LLC of Salisbury, N.C.; C&S Wholesale Grocers Inc. of Keene, N.H.; Ukrop's Super Markets, Inc. of Richmond, Va.; Wakefern Food Corp. of Edison, N.J.; and White Rose Food of Carteret, N.J. The annual awards, now in their ninth year, honor quality and distinction in supermarkets' community-based initiatives in the areas of youth development, hunger relief, health and wellness, and urban economic development.
"Supermarkets continue to be driving forces in their communities," noted FMI director of diversity and community relations Henry Hailstock in a statement. "This year's winners of the Neighborhood Partnership Awards are fine examples of the profound difference supermarkets make every day through their outreach, commitment, sense of responsibility, and awareness of community needs."
--Food Lion's Children’s Miracle Network Campaign has raised about $17 million since 1991 for the Children's Miracle Network, a system of children's hospitals that provides state-of-the-art, lifesaving care to children year-round. During 2004 Food Lion stores raised and contributed $2.1 million to the network, thanks to the creative fundraising efforts of store associates.
--Hunger relief is the main community focus of C&S Wholesale Grocers, whose program takes a multi-pronged approach. Among other activities, the company donates food to state or regional food banks that are part of the America's Second Harvest network; gives major grants for the general operations of the organization's food banks; provides grants for hunger leadership programs; matches associate donations to nearly 50 United Ways from coast to coast; provides mini grants made by teams of nonexecutive associates to local nonprofits involved in hunger relief; and encourages employee volunteerism with a special focus on helping food banks and other hunger-related organizations.
--Ukrop's "Share A Holiday Meal" program supports area families in need during the holiday season through the local Christmas Mother programs and the Salvation Army Christmas Assistance program. Ukrop's invited its customers to take part in Share A Meal by contributing $5, $10 or $20 toward the purchase of holiday meals for local families. Customers could make the donation at the checkout by adding their donation to their total purchase. Ukrop's also enlisted the help of various vendors to support the program's television efforts, and its banking partner, First Market Bank, made a $10,000 contribution. Ukrop's donated $10,000 and offered a 10 percent discount to Christmas Mothers and the Salvation Army for the purchase of gift cards for distribution. A total of $56,060 was raised through the program in 2004.
--Wakerfern Food Corp.'s "ShopRite Partners in Caring" program works year-round with more than 70 food industry manufacturers to provide support to more than 1,000 qualified agencies that fight hunger. Every year the program donates $2 million to support such recipients as emergency food pantries, homeless shelters, child care and after-school programs, battered women's shelters, senior citizen programs, and programs for the disabled. To date, more than $9 million has been donated. Additionally, the company has raised awareness of hunger in its communities through the volunteer efforts of its associates and the creation of various outreach programs.
--White Rose Food's "Programa de Buenos Vecinos (Good Neighbor)" program encompasses a full year of constant ethnic-oriented activity. Its participation was developed as a partnership between White Rose Food and the program sponsors, which are key manufacturers. The program met the objectives of raising awareness of family and community through such events as its 3 Kings Celebration, Black History Month programs, Children's Health Fairs, Mother's Recognition Program, and summer camp program. The company has expanded program sponsorships by 25 percent in 2005.
"Supermarkets continue to be driving forces in their communities," noted FMI director of diversity and community relations Henry Hailstock in a statement. "This year's winners of the Neighborhood Partnership Awards are fine examples of the profound difference supermarkets make every day through their outreach, commitment, sense of responsibility, and awareness of community needs."
--Food Lion's Children’s Miracle Network Campaign has raised about $17 million since 1991 for the Children's Miracle Network, a system of children's hospitals that provides state-of-the-art, lifesaving care to children year-round. During 2004 Food Lion stores raised and contributed $2.1 million to the network, thanks to the creative fundraising efforts of store associates.
--Hunger relief is the main community focus of C&S Wholesale Grocers, whose program takes a multi-pronged approach. Among other activities, the company donates food to state or regional food banks that are part of the America's Second Harvest network; gives major grants for the general operations of the organization's food banks; provides grants for hunger leadership programs; matches associate donations to nearly 50 United Ways from coast to coast; provides mini grants made by teams of nonexecutive associates to local nonprofits involved in hunger relief; and encourages employee volunteerism with a special focus on helping food banks and other hunger-related organizations.
--Ukrop's "Share A Holiday Meal" program supports area families in need during the holiday season through the local Christmas Mother programs and the Salvation Army Christmas Assistance program. Ukrop's invited its customers to take part in Share A Meal by contributing $5, $10 or $20 toward the purchase of holiday meals for local families. Customers could make the donation at the checkout by adding their donation to their total purchase. Ukrop's also enlisted the help of various vendors to support the program's television efforts, and its banking partner, First Market Bank, made a $10,000 contribution. Ukrop's donated $10,000 and offered a 10 percent discount to Christmas Mothers and the Salvation Army for the purchase of gift cards for distribution. A total of $56,060 was raised through the program in 2004.
--Wakerfern Food Corp.'s "ShopRite Partners in Caring" program works year-round with more than 70 food industry manufacturers to provide support to more than 1,000 qualified agencies that fight hunger. Every year the program donates $2 million to support such recipients as emergency food pantries, homeless shelters, child care and after-school programs, battered women's shelters, senior citizen programs, and programs for the disabled. To date, more than $9 million has been donated. Additionally, the company has raised awareness of hunger in its communities through the volunteer efforts of its associates and the creation of various outreach programs.
--White Rose Food's "Programa de Buenos Vecinos (Good Neighbor)" program encompasses a full year of constant ethnic-oriented activity. Its participation was developed as a partnership between White Rose Food and the program sponsors, which are key manufacturers. The program met the objectives of raising awareness of family and community through such events as its 3 Kings Celebration, Black History Month programs, Children's Health Fairs, Mother's Recognition Program, and summer camp program. The company has expanded program sponsorships by 25 percent in 2005.