Rite Aid Foundation Pledges Additional $100,000 to Hurricane Sandy Relief; Company to Launch Nationa
Rite Aid Foundation Pledges Additional $100,000 to Hurricane Sandy Relief; Company to Launch National In-Store Fundraising Program
Relief Supplies Delivered Directly to Hardest Hit Areas
CAMP HILL, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Rite Aid (NYS: RAD) announced today that The Rite Aid Foundation is pledging an additional $100,000 donation to Hurricane Sandy relief efforts. The Rite Aid Foundation will award a $50,000 grant to both the Empire State Relief Fund, announced by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, and to the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund, established by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. Both of the organizations will support the rebuilding efforts of the communities affected by the storm.
The company also announced that it will launch an in-store customer and associate fundraising program to further support hurricane relief efforts. The in-store program will first launch in those areas most affected by the storm and roll out to more than 4,600 stores chain-wide on Friday, November 23. Known as "Black Friday," this is the busiest shopping day of the year. The campaign, which will run through December 15, will enable customers to donate an amount of their choice at the register at any Rite Aid store across the country. Rite Aid associates in the corporate and field offices as well as the company's distribution centers will also be able to participate in the program.
All funds raised will be donated in equal amounts to the Empire State Relief Fund and the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund.
The Rite Aid Foundation previously donated $100,000 to the American Red Cross for Sandy relief efforts on October 31 and provided four truckloads of bottled water valued at $30,000 to residents in devastated areas.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo thanked Rite Aid as one of the first corporations to announce support for the Fund. "Rite Aid's contributions and the creation of a national in-store fundraising program during their busiest time of year show they are standing with New Yorkers as they start to rebuild. Rite Aid understands that in the aftermath of this devastating storm the need for assistance will be felt for months - even years to come. During tough times, New Yorkers come together to lend a hand and take care of their neighbors, and I commend Rite Aid and all other individuals and businesses that have pitched in for their generosity."
New Jersey First Lady Mary Pat Christie, who is chairing the Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund, echoed these sentiments, saying that, "The donation from The Rite Aid Foundation as well as the funds donated by Rite Aid customers in-store will enable us to help our citizens today and in the longer-term as we all work together to rebuild. We deeply appreciate their giving back to the communities they serve in this way."
"So many of our customers and associates have asked what they can do to help the people of New York and New Jersey rebuild in the wake of Hurricane Sandy," said Rite Aid Chairman, President and CEO John Standley. "By launching our in-store fundraising program during the busiest shopping time of the year for our stores, we can draw on the higher store traffic and the sense of giving surrounding the holiday season to raise as much as we can to help those in need."
Rite Aid had long planned to host the final events of its 12-city 50th anniversary celebration, RA50, in New York City November 14-16. In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, the company has redeployed its RA50 wellness events and product donations to address the most immediate needs of impacted communities.
Tomorrow, Rite Aid will deliver a truckload of donated products including first aid, baby care, personal care, hygiene and cleaning supplies to the Breezy Point Cooperative, currently located at the Fort Tilden Army Reserve Center in Rockaway Point, N.Y. The Breezy Point Cooperative is serving as a resource center for displaced families in the Rockaways-Breezy Point area.
On Thursday, Rite Aid will deliver a truckload of donated products including personal care and first aid items, cleaning supplies and other household items to pop-up shops set up by the North Shore LIJ Health System. Located at the Staten Island University Hospital in Staten Island and the Southside Hospital in Bayshore, the North Shore LIJ Health System has set up these stores as a place where employees of the health system whose homes have been damaged or destroyed can shop free for essential daily living items. Rite Aid has long partnered with the health system through its sponsorship of its children's hospital, Steven and Alexandra Cohen Children's Medical Center of New York, a Children's Miracle Network Hospital.
The Rite Aid Foundation, founded in July 2001, is a not-for-profit foundation dedicated to helping people in the communities Rite Aid serves. Since its inception, The Rite Aid Foundation has awarded grants totaling more than $14.3 million to approximately 1250 organizations in 629 communities. For more information on The Rite Aid Foundation, visit www.riteaid.com.
Rite Aid Corporation (NYS: RAD) is one of the nation's leading drugstore chains with more than 4,600 stores in 31 states and the District of Columbia and fiscal 2012 annual revenues of $26.1 billion. Information about Rite Aid, including corporate background and press releases, is available through the company's website at www.riteaid.com.
Rite Aid
Ashley Flower, 717-975-5718
aflower@riteaid.com
KEYWORDS: United States North America New Jersey New York Pennsylvania
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