KROGER TALLIES $126 MILLION FOR CHARITY

CINCINNATI -- Kroger here said it contributed nearly $126 million to local communities and nonprofit organizations in 2004 as part of its "Neighbor to Neighbor" charitable-giving program.

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Donations included 28 million pounds of food valued at $43 million to 40 regional food banks affiliated with America's Second Harvest; $17 million to local schools and nonprofit organizations; $24 million from employee donations and in-store fund-raising efforts in support of breast cancer research, the United Negro College Fund, disaster relief and children's hospitals; 1,800 grants valued at $5 million from the Kroger Foundation, the Ralphs/Food 4 Less Foundation and the Fred Meyer Foundation; $4.3 million to the Salvation Army's Red Kettle campaign; and $1.7 million from customers and associates for victim relief from tsunamis in southern Asia and eastern Africa.

Separately, last week Kroger and ConAgra Foods jointly donated $50,000 to the Houston Food Bank to acknowledge National Hunger Awareness Day on June 7.

"Summer is a period of marked demand increase for the Houston Food Bank, so this incredible donation could not have come at a better time," said Beth Tanner, chief financial officer and interim chief executive officer of the Houston Food Bank.

Kroger Southwest, which includes locations in Texas and Louisiana, teamed up with ConAgra Foods for a product promotion in March that included several Con-Agra brands. The promotion raised a total of $100,000; the Houston Food Bank is receiving $50,000, and the Tarrant County Food Bank and the North Texas Food Bank will receive $25,000 each.

"This promotion is a testament to what great accomplishments can be achieved when corporations and the community come together for a common cause," said Bill Breetz, president, Kroger Southwest.