LOS ANGELES, Nov. 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Smart & Final
Stores, Inc. (NYSE: SFS), the neighborhood warehouse grocery store,
today announced that its philanthropic arm, the Smart & Final
Charitable Foundation, hit a fundraising milestone, raising
$2 million for over 1,850 causes this
year with the help of Smart & Final customers and store
associates. This includes $96,000
recently fundraised and provided to the California communities suffering from the
devastating effects of wildfires.
Through the generosity of Smart & Final store associates
themselves, $120,000 of that
milestone was collected through the company's annual pledge drive,
in which employees pledge to give a percentage of each paycheck to
charity.
As a result, the Smart & Final Charitable Foundation, which
is committed to improving the quality of life and nourishing the
communities in which Smart & Final stores serve, was able to
provide both product and monetary donations to non-profit
organizations in the foundation's five key areas of focus as
follows:
- Disaster Relief: The Charitable Foundation donated over
$106,000 to disaster relief efforts,
with the help of customer and store associate contributions. In
response to the recent Butte and Woolsey fires, Smart & Final
and the foundation have raised $96,000 through an in-store giving campaign and
is continuing to donate food and supplies to first responders,
evacuation centers, churches and animal shelters.
- Health and Wellness: Smart & Final store associates
took part in 14 American Heart Association's Heart Walks,
contributing and raising $56,500 in
product and donations. Additionally, to support its partner City of
Hope, Smart & Final stores raised and gifted a total of
$313,000 through the Kids 4 Hope
in-store giving campaign in October.
- Youth Development: Store associates and the Charitable
Foundation contributed $10,000 worth
of gift cards and raised another $400,000 for Olive
Crest, an organization committed to transforming the lives
of at-risk children and their families. As a longtime supporter of
Olive Crest, the Charitable
Foundation continues to find ways to provide for their youth. In
fact, one Olive Crest teen is now
employed and beginning his career as a Smart & Final
associate.
- Team Sports: In addition to the $100,000 the Charitable Foundation contributed to
team sports this year, Smart & Final store associates also took
it upon themselves to donate their time to numerous organizations,
including Special Olympics, Little Leagues, and Boys & Girls
Clubs.
- Hunger Relief: The Charitable Foundation continues the
giving spirit this holiday season through its current sponsorship
of PastaThon, an annual event raising monetary donations and pasta
for Caterina's Club, which provides warm meals for youth homeless
and low-income families throughout Southern California. Through December 7, shoppers at participating Smart &
Final or Smart & Final Extra! stores can make a $10 donation at the register and Smart &
Final will in turn provide pasta, pasta sauce, forks, bowls and
napkins to Caterina's Club. Each $10
donation will provide 14 meals to kids in need.
"From AYSOs, Little Leagues and school PTAs to charity walks and
disaster relief, helping our local communities is at the heart of
Smart & Final's culture," said Barbara Van Dine, Vice
President, Smart & Final Charitable Foundation. "The dedication
of our associates and customers to give so much of their time and
financial assistance makes me proud to be part of this company and
I am honored to assist through the great work of the Charitable
Foundation."
About Smart & Final
Smart & Final Stores, Inc. (NYSE: SFS), is a value-oriented
food and everyday staples retailer, headquartered in Commerce (near Los
Angeles), California. The
Company offers quality products in a variety of sizes, saving
household, nonprofit and business customers time and money. As of
October 7, 2018, the Company operated
324 grocery and foodservice stores under the "Smart &
Final," "Smart & Final Extra!" and
"Smart Foodservice Warehouse Stores" banners in
California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Nevada, Idaho, Montana and Utah, with an additional 15 stores in
Northwestern Mexico operated
through a joint venture. In business for over 146 years, the
Company remains committed to giving back to local communities
through employee volunteer opportunities and Company donations to
local nonprofits.
About the Smart & Final Charitable Foundation
Established in 2002, the Smart & Final Charitable Foundation
is a 501(c)(3) Charitable Organization which strives to give back,
improve the quality of life and nourish communities we serve
throughout California, Arizona and Nevada. Throughout the
years, the foundation has donated millions of dollars to
non-profits and organizations focused on health and wellness,
education, hunger relief, team sports and youth development, and
disaster relief. The Smart & Final Charitable Foundation raises
funds through its corporate sponsor Smart & Final Stores, Inc.,
as well as through vendor donations, associates and in-store
fundraising.
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SOURCE Smart & Final Stores, Inc.