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FMI RECOGNIZES NEIGHBORHOOD PROJECTS

WASHINGTON -- Food Marketing Institute here said last week it presented its 2000 Neighborhood Partnership Awards for outstanding public/private partnerships to PCC Natural Markets, Seattle; K.V. Mart Co., Carson, Calif., and H.E. Butt Grocery Co.. San Antonio. ng levels of budget and staff: less than $70 million, between $70 million and $360 million and more than $360 million.Each of the three award

WASHINGTON -- Food Marketing Institute here said last week it presented its 2000 Neighborhood Partnership Awards for outstanding public/private partnerships to PCC Natural Markets, Seattle; K.V. Mart Co., Carson, Calif., and H.E. Butt Grocery Co.. San Antonio.

ng levels of budget and staff: less than $70 million, between $70 million and $360 million and more than $360 million.

Each of the three award winners received a $3,000-grant, which it will apply to continue or expand its award-winning program.

PCC Natural Markets' Farmland Fund secures and preserves prime organic growing areas in western Washington. To initiate the program, the coop donated 5% of all produce sales in October 1999. On-going fundraising is conducted through voluntary payroll deductions, vendor sales promotions, customer contributions and corporate donations. The company's goal is to raise more than $1 million for land purchases over the next three years. PCC won in the less than $70 million sales category.

Many of K.V. Mart's stores are located in socio-economically disadvantaged areas of Los Angeles. For the past four years, the company has organized an invitational golf tournament and banquet to raise funds supporting extra-curricular activities at elementary and secondary schools in the company's marketing area. To date, this fundraiser has donated more than $160,000 to local schools. This year, six schools each received $10,000. K.V. Mart Co. won out of the between $70 and $360 million sales category.

H-E-B's 14-year-old Great Earth Initiative is a program that provides environmental education and solutions in each of the 150 communities served by the company. The initiative involves partner/employee education, community/customer education and community outreach. Specific projects have included lake and river cleanups, on-site recycling, auto emissions screening and the co-chairing of Texas Recycles Day. H-E-B donates $500,000 annually to teachers and nonprofit groups to support environmental education programs. The company won out of the more than $360 million sales category.

Todd Turner, vice president of membership and urban affairs at FMI, said, "The various program entries received this year clearly demonstrate the supermarket industry's commitment to enhancing the neighborhoods in which they do business."