Albertsons Companies Announces 2015 Donations Topped $270 Million and Thanks Customers for Helping Those in Need

BOISE, Idaho, Feb. 18, 2016 /3BL Media/ -- Albertsons Companies announced that it contributed more than $270 million in food and financial support in 2015 to the communities it serves, helping people in 35 states and the District of Columbia live better lives.

"We are committed to helping make the communities where we operate the best places to live and work," said Albertsons Companies Chairman and CEO Bob Miller. "Thanks to the generosity of our customers and the dedication of our store teams, our neighborhoods are stronger and much-needed resources are getting to people in need."

The company's donation initiatives include a broad range of local and regionally-driven efforts at stores across the country under 18 banners, including Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw's, Acme, Tom Thumb, Randalls, United Supermarkets, Pavilions, Star Market, Carrs and others. The company's customers and employees support these efforts through donations and volunteer activities to benefit local charities.   

In 2015, the Albertsons Companies Foundation distributed more than $16 million in grants for its key philanthropic causes, including hunger relief, cancer research, programs for people with disabilities, and education. These funds were contributed by customers through an array of successful fundraisers.

As a supermarket company, the cause of Hunger Relief is especially important to Albertsons and a major focus of fundraising and giving. In 2015, the company's more than 2,200 stores gave over $245 million in products to hundreds of local food banks, pantries and meal programs. In addition, the company launched several programs during the holiday season that made the holidays brighter for people in need.  The "End Hunger" Food Bag, Santa Bucks and Turkey Bucks programs allowed shoppers to purchase food or make a contribution to purchase food that would go directly to their local food bank or pantry. These efforts yielded more than $10.3 million in food donations to combat food insecurity during the holidays.

Also in 2015, Albertsons Foundation continued its partnership with the Entertainment Industry Foundation and award-winning actress/Hunger Is Ambassador Viola Davis on the successful Hunger Is charitable program, which includes an in-store fundraising campaign to fight childhood hunger. The joint charitable initiative awarded grants to 79 local charities to increase access to free and reduced-cost school breakfast, improve the nutritional quality of breakfast programs, and expand weekend, summer and vacation food programs.

Albertsons is committed to continuing these philanthropic efforts and creating new opportunities to support worthy causes in 2016 and beyond.