Kroger customers will now have the opportunity to donate to Nationwide Children’s Hospital while they are paying for their groceries at all Central Ohio and Ohio Valley stores. The 2015 Kroger “Kids Come First” campaign begins May 31 and runs through June 13. As part of the campaign, customers are encouraged to purchase a paper bear for $1, with additional donations welcome. Every dollar raised during the two week promotion will directly benefit Nationwide Children’s Hospital.
Kroger is also partnering with the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide to raise funds for Nationwide Children’s. During the same two-week period, Kroger customers will also have the option to purchase “Sandy,” the 2015 limited edition plush bear for $10. Customers can either take the bear home or donate it to a patient at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Proceeds from the sale of the plush bears will also benefit the hospital.
Kroger’s “Kids Come First” campaign not only supports Nationwide Children’s, but also focuses on childhood safety awareness. As part of the campaign, summer safety tip flyers for parents are available, and kids 12 and under may participate in a coloring contest for the opportunity to win prizes.
Since its inception in 2012, Kroger customers, through the Kroger “Kids Come First” Campaign have contributed more than $500,000 to Nationwide Children’s Hospital.
Kroger has been a long-time supporter and community partner of Nationwide Children’s. In October 2012, a family lounge located in the Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit at Nationwide Children’s was dedicated and named in honor of Kroger to recognize the grocer’s continued support of the hospital. The family lounge provides patient families respite and comfort during stressful times as their children recover from cardiothoracic surgery in nearby patient rooms.
About Nationwide Children’s Hospital
Ranked 7th of only 10 children's hospitals on U.S. News & World Report’s 2014-15 “America’s Best Children’s Hospitals Honor Roll,” Nationwide Children’s Hospital is one of the nation’s largest not-for-profit freestanding pediatric healthcare networks providing wellness, preventive, diagnostic, treatment and rehabilitative care for infants, children and adolescents, as well as adult patients with congenital disease. Nationwide Children’s, also ranked among the Top 10 on Parents magazine’s 2013 “Best Children’s Hospitals” list, has a medical staff of 1,100 and nearly 10,000 employees providing state-of-the-art pediatric care for one million patient visits annually. As home to the Department of Pediatrics of The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Nationwide Children’s physicians train the next generation of pediatricians and pediatric specialists. The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital is one of the Top 10 National Institutes of Health-funded freestanding pediatric research facilities. Nationwide Children’s remains true to the original mission since its founding in 1892 of providing care regardless of a family’s ability to pay. More information is available at NationwideChildrens.org.
About The Kroger Co.
Kroger, one of the world's largest retailers, employs nearly 400,000 associates who serve customers in 2,625 supermarkets and multi-department stores in 34 states and the District of Columbia under two dozen local banner names including Kroger, City Market, Dillons, Food 4 Less, Fred Meyer, Fry's, Harris Teeter, Jay C, King Soopers, QFC, Ralphs and Smith's. The company also operates 782 convenience stores, 326 fine jewelry stores, 1,330 supermarket fuel centers and 37 food processing plants in the U.S. Recognized by Forbes as the most generous company in America, Kroger supports hunger relief, breast cancer awareness, the military and their families, and more than 30,000 schools and community organizations. Kroger contributes food and funds equal to 200 million meals a year through more than 80 Feeding America food bank partners. A leader in supplier diversity, Kroger is a proud member of the Billion Dollar Roundtable and the U.S. Hispanic Chamber's Million Dollar Club.