FRESH & EASY GIVES $1.3 MILLION THROUGH SHOP FOR SCHOOLS PROGRAM

FRESH & EASY GIVES $1.3 MILLION THROUGH SHOP FOR SCHOOLS PROGRAM

Amount Given Nearly Doubles from Last Year

EL SEGUNDO, CA – Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market announced today the results of its third-annual Shop for Schools program. Nearly 2,000 schools actively participated in Shop for Schools this school year, earning more than $1.3 million that each school can use for whatever they need most.

John P. Cole, Clark County School District Trustee said of the Shop for Schools program: “I am thoroughly impressed that Fresh & Easy uses such an innovative and productive approach to becoming a welcome partner in its communities through assisting local schools. Although programs such as this should never be considered as a replacement of any of the state’s responsibility to adequately fund education, it does allow local schools to raise funds for a wide variety of program uses. These kinds of community partnerships are a much needed boost in difficult times such as these.”

Shop for Schools was launched as a pilot program in spring 2009, raising more than $130,000 for schools in California, Nevada and Arizona. Fresh & Easy brought the program back in fall 2009, raising another $670,000 for local schools. 

“Shop for Schools is much more than just a fundraising program – it is a great way for us to connect directly with parents and teachers to work on the issues that are important for our neighbors,” said Fresh & Easy CEO Tim Mason. “We are thrilled to see such an increase in participation and interest in the program this year and we know next year’s program will be a success with even more partnership with our neighbors.”

Kindergarten through eighth grade schools located within a three-mile radius of any Fresh & Easy store can participate in the Shop for Schools program. For every $20 spent at a Fresh & Easy store from September 15 through December 31, 2010, participating schools received a $1 donation. In addition to collecting receipts, registered schools could also participate in Shopping Nights, which provided an opportunity to raise even more money. From 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on each school’s designated shopping night, five percent of the total sales at the local Fresh & Easy store were donated to the school. 

Fresh & Easy plans to bring the program back again in fall 2011 and for the first time ever, offer online registration in mid-May. Visit www.freshandeasy.com/shopforschools for more information.