Safeway Launches Program to Raise School Funds

SN STAFF

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway here said Wednesday it is launching its sixth annual "10% Goes Back to Schools" program — an in-store initiative in which more than 150 food manufacturers help support schools and students throughout the U.S.

Under the program, which runs until Sept. 14, Safeway will donate 10% of the sale price of more than 2,300 products to local schools as designated by customers, whose purchases of specially marked items — through use of their Safeway club card — will automatically accumulate donations that will be held for the school of their choice; at the end of the promotion period, customers will receive a final donation receipt that can be sent to the chosen school, which can then redeem all receipts online.

As an added incentive for customers to participate, Safeway said the 100 schools that garner the most participation, as indicated by their earnings, will receive a $1,000 bonus from Safeway and its CPG partners.

"In these difficult times it seems that every school district in the nation is either slashing budgets or asking parents to contribute more," Teena Massingill, director of corporate public affairs for safeway, told SN. "This program is an easy way for schools to earn some extra cash."

Since 2005, Safeway has raised more than $15 million for schools. Last year, customers participating in the five-week program earned more than $3.5 million for the schools of their choice, the company said.