Food and Funraising

This is a forward from a reader and offers a great fundraising opportunity in our area. See if it is active in yours too.

Here is a way to shop for the fresh produce you love and contribute to local children’s hospitals all at once:
Produce for Kids® is working with your local Kroger stores to encourage families to eat healthier and at the same time help you give back to your community, by donating a portion of every piece of produce sold to local children's hospitals.

Your family gets healthy and gives hope to the kids who need it most. Many of the fruits and veggies are probably on your grocery list already so there's not much more to add!

All of the Kroger stores in the Houston and Dallas areas are participating and what's most important is the funds raised from produce that's bought in your community, stays in your community.

If you have any questions, just email me. www.produceforkids.org can help, or you can email Brian Burch at bburch@lambert-edwards.com .

CONTACT
Brian Burch Kristal Howard
Produce for Kids FKM PR
616-233-0500 713-867-3220
info@produceforkids.org khoward@fkmagency.com

DO GOOD WHEN YOU SHOP: BUY PRODUCE AND RAISE MONEY FOR KIDS
Kroger and Produce for Kids® support local Children Miracle Network® affiliated hospital

HOUSTON – May 27, 2009 – During these challenging economic times, it can be difficult to make charitable giving a priority, but Kroger is partnering with Produce for Kids® (PFK), an organization that promotes the benefits of healthy eating and supports worthy causes for children, on behalf of fresh fruit and vegetable growers to help shoppers give money to Houston’ local Children Miracle Network® affiliated hospital – Texas Children’s.

From June 3 through 30, participating fruit and vegetable growers will make a donation to Texas Children’s Hospital based on sales of their items at Houston-area Kroger stores.

Rebecca King, consumer affairs manager of Kroger Southwest, said when shoppers buy designated items, such as apples and cucumbers, they can raise money for Texas Children’s Hospital without impacting their household budgets.

“Our customers are very generous, especially when it comes to Texas Children’s Hospital,” said King. “By simply purchasing great tasting produce, customers get a super value and help make miracles happen in the lives of young people.”

According to the latest results of the Cone Cause Evolution Study, reports show a sharp increase in consumers purchasing products associated with a non-profit cause. Cone first began measuring the attitudes of Americans 15 years ago. The study also revealed that more than half (52 percent) of Americans feel companies should maintain their level of financial support of causes and nonprofit organizations even in tough economic times.

For five years Kroger has partnered with PFK, and in that time, shoppers and participating fresh produce companies have raised more than $115,000 for local Children Miracle Network® hospitals.
This year Kroger has its largest number of produce supplier sponsors ever. The group includes: Chelan Fresh, Chelan, Wash. (apples); Colorado Potato Administrative Committee, Monte Vista, Colo. (Colorado potatoes); Crunch Pak, Cashmere Wa. (sliced apples); Del Monte Fresh, Coral Gables, Fla. (Del Monte Gold® Extra Sweet Pineapple & Del Monte Melons); DOLE®, Westlake Village, Calif. (value added salads); Driscoll's®, Watsonville, Calif. (raspberries); Huron Produce, Ltd., Longmont, Colo. (Suntastic - Tomatoes/English cucumbers); Shuman Produce, Inc., Reidsville, Ga (RealSweet® Vidalia® onions).; Sunkist®, Sherman Oaks, Calif. (Valencia oranges, grapefruit and lemons).

About Produce for Kids
Created in 2002 by Shuman Produce Inc., a leading grower-shipper of Vidalia® sweet onions, PFK brings the fresh produce industry together to raise funds for children's non-profit organizations while educating families about the benefits of healthy eating. To learn more about PFK, visit www.produceforkids.org.

About Kroger
The Kroger Southwest Division operates 209 stores and 83 fuel centers in Texas and Louisiana and is part of one of the nation’s largest retail grocery chains serving customers in 31 states. For more than 125 years Kroger has emphasized a customer-first approach to providing quality products, value pricing, outstanding service and an exceptional shopping experience. Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, the supermarket retailer is dedicated to making a difference in the communities it serves by supporting hunger relief, education, women’s health and wellness, and diversity programs. For more information about Kroger, please visit www.kroger.com.

About Texas Children’s Hospital
Texas Children's Hospital is committed to a community of healthy children by providing the finest pediatric patient care, education and research. Renowned worldwide for its expertise and breakthrough developments in clinical care and research, Texas Children’s is ranked in the top ten best children’s hospitals by U.S. News and World Report. Texas Children’s also operates the nation’s largest primary pediatric care network, with over 40 offices throughout the greater Houston community. Texas Children’s has embarked on a $1.5 Billion expansion, Vision 2010, which includes a Neurological Research Institute, a comprehensive obstetrics facility focusing on high risk births, and a community hospital in suburban West Houston. For more information, visit www.texaschildrens.org.