FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, June 10, 2019
CONTACT:
Meredith Gremel
Vice President, Corporate Affairs & Communications, SpartanNash
Executive Director, SpartanNash Foundation
616-878-2830
SpartanNash, company’s Foundation have donated more than $9.6 million, thousands of volunteer hours during 35-year partnership
100 percent of donations will go directly to year-round sports training and athletic competition through Special Olympics partners
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Together with its store guests and company associates, the SpartanNash Foundation’s Special Olympics fundraising scan campaign raised $255,200 on behalf of Special Olympics athletes and State Summer Games in Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
Between May 1 and 12, the SpartanNash Foundation hosted the companywide fundraising scan campaign in SpartanNash-owned stores throughout the Midwest, giving store guests the opportunity to donate $1, $5 or $10 at any checkout lane.
In each state, SpartanNash stores – including Family Fare, D&W Fresh Market, VG’s Grocery, Dan’s Supermarket and Family Fresh Market – teamed up to support Special Olympics partners, resulting in the $255,200 total.
“Along with our store guests and associates, SpartanNash and the SpartanNash Foundation are deeply committed to supporting Special Olympics in the states we serve, and the success of our recent retail scan demonstrates that support,” said Meredith Gremel, vice president of corporate affairs and communications and the executive director of the SpartanNash Foundation. “We are most grateful to all who joined forces with the SpartanNash Foundation to support this worthy cause and raise awareness of the importance of Special Olympics’ mission and the athletes who excel through good sportsmanship and competition.”
The mission of Special Olympics is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.
Since 1985, SpartanNash and its charitable giving arm, the SpartanNash Foundation, have donated more than $9.6 million and thousands of volunteer hours through its partnership with Special Olympics.
SpartanNash has been the Presenting Sponsor of the Special Olympics Michigan Summer Games since 1985. The company has also supported Special Olympics Minnesota Summer Games since 2003.
In Michigan, SpartanNash associates also prepare and feed hundreds of volunteers throughout the State Summer Games. SpartanNash donates all of the food for the volunteers and prints the State Summer Games programs and handbooks as well.
One hundred percent of all funds raised during the annual Special Olympics fundraising scan campaign go directly to year-round sports training and athletic competition opportunities. SpartanNash underwrites the costs to run the scan campaign, contributes funding and encourages associates to volunteer during Special Olympics State Summer Games and beyond.
Check presentations to Special Olympics partners will take place in the coming weeks, often during the opening ceremonies of the state’s Summer Games. Results from the 2019 Special Olympics scan include:
- $165,000 for Special Olympics Michigan
- $1,300 for Special Olympics Iowa
- $15,000 for Special Olympics Minnesota
- $25,000 for Special Olympics Nebraska
- $29,000 for Special Olympics North Dakota
- $4,200 for Special Olympics Ohio
- $6,200 for Special Olympics South Dakota
- $9,500 for Special Olympics Wisconsin
The Special Olympics retail scan campaign is the second of four fundraising campaigns the SpartanNash Foundation will conduct in 2019. To date, the SpartanNash Foundation has raised $434,700 on behalf of local Habitat for Humanity and Special Olympics partners in eight states. Upcoming retail scans will raise funds and awareness for patriotic partners (June 26-July 7) and community food pantries (Oct. 23-Nov. 3).
To learn more, visit spartannash.com/foundation-scans.
SpartanNash Healthy Athletes
In conjunction with the retail scan campaign, SpartanNash also
selects
Special Olympics Healthy Athletes, whose healthy lifestyles and involvement in
the Special Olympics embody the organization’s oath: Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.
For 2019, SpartanNash recognized Healthy
Athletes in Michigan and Wisconsin. Meagan Barker and Isaiah Kasay helped
promote the Foundation’s retail scan with in-store autograph sessions – and were
featured on the packaging of bottles of Our Family® brand water. More than
125,000 cases of the specially designed 24-pack bottles of spring water were
sold at more than 155 SpartanNash-owned stores, as well as independent retail locations
throughout the country.
SpartanNash began the Healthy Athlete program in Michigan in 2008, expanding the program in 2016 to include athletes throughout its retail footprint.
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About the SpartanNash Foundation
The SpartanNash Foundation was formed in 2015 and is the charitable giving arm of SpartanNash. It is focused on providing financial support to nonprofit partners who align with its mission to end hunger, provide shelter and support our military heroes. With a combined total legacy of more than 100 years, the SpartanNash Foundation represents the best of its predecessors, the NFC Foundation and the Spartan Stores Foundation. The SpartanNash Foundation is a Michigan nonprofit corporation and is tax exempt under IRC 501(c)3. It is a non-operating private foundation. To learn more about the SpartanNash Foundation, visit spartannash.com/foundation.
About SpartanNash
SpartanNash (Nasdaq: SPTN) is a Fortune 400 company whose core businesses include distributing grocery products to a diverse group of independent and chain retailers, its corporate-owned retail stores and U.S. military commissaries and exchanges; as well as premier fresh produce distribution and fresh food processing. SpartanNash serves customer locations in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, Europe, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Bahrain, Djibouti and Egypt. SpartanNash currently operates 160 supermarkets, primarily under the banners of Family Fare, Martin’s Super Markets, D&W Fresh Market, VG’s Grocery, Dan’s Supermarket and Family Fresh Market. Through its MDV military division, SpartanNash is a leading distributor of grocery products to U.S. military commissaries.