Fresh & Easy Extends Registration for Shop for Schools Fundraising Program

EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Sept. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market today announced it will extend registration for its Shop for Schools fundraising program until October 15, 2010. Due to the overwhelmingly positive response from school officials and parents, the company is giving schools an additional two weeks to sign up and take advantage of this great opportunity.

All eligible Kindergarten through 8th grade schools within a three-mile radius of a Fresh & Easy store can participate in the program. Participating schools will receive a $1 cash donation for every $20 receipt collected from any Fresh & Easy store through December 31, 2010. At the end of the program, Fresh & Easy will award the top fundraising school in each state with a $5,000 bonus.

"This year we have seen an even more incredible response to our Shop for Schools program. Schools are telling us they are searching for ways to raise money, especially in the current economy," said Fresh & Easy CEO Tim Mason. "With school budgets so tight, we are happy to help our neighbors."

In addition to collecting receipts, registered schools can participate in Shopping Nights, which provide an opportunity to raise even more money. From 4pm to 8pm on each school's designated shopping night, five percent of the total sales at the local Fresh & Easy store are donated to the school.  

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.  

Fresh & Easy recently created this video on the Shop for Schools program: http://www.youtube.com/user/talkingfresh#p/a/u/1/fWCetri7GK0. More information about Shop for Schools can be found at www.freshandeasy.com/shopforschools.  

About Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market

Fresh & Easy operates 168 stores in California, Arizona and Nevada. In addition to fresh prepared meals, meats and produce, Fresh & Easy offers everyone's favorite national brand products and household items, all at unbelievably low prices. The grocer's popular fresh&easy brand products contain no artificial colors or flavors, no added trans fats, no high-fructose corn syrup and use preservatives only when absolutely necessary.

On average, Fresh & Easy stores use 30% less energy than a typical supermarket – helping save customers money while helping the environment. Fresh & Easy uses LED lighting in external signs and freezer cases, offers customer recycling in every store, and uses advanced refrigeration and freezer units to cut back on energy usage.

Entry-level positions start at $10 an hour in California and offer quarterly bonuses of up to 10% as well as a 401(k) with company match. Fresh & Easy provides all employees the opportunity to work at least 20 hours per week, which entitles everyone to vision, prescription drug, dental and medical coverage with Fresh & Easy paying at least 75%.  

For more information about Fresh & Easy, visit www.freshandeasy.com. Also follow the company on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/fresh_and_easy and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/freshandeasy.  

SOURCE Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market