Kroger's Honoring Our Heroes Campaign Raises $3.3 Million for USO in 2014

CINCINNATI, Nov. 10, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) today proudly announced a total contribution to the USO of more than $3.3 million for 2014.

The funds were raised through the company's Honoring Our Heroes sales event in May and customer contributions collected at check stands through the summer and fall. 

Since 2010, the Kroger family of stores, in partnership with customers, associates and vendors, has donated a total of $11.8 million to help support the military and their families – the largest cumulative gift to the USO in that organization's history.  

"The USO connects with our service men and women every step of the way, and Kroger is proud to honor our troops and veterans by supporting them," said Lynn Marmer, Kroger's group vice president for corporate affairs.  "We are humbled by the generosity our customers have shown through their participation in Kroger's Honoring Our Heroes campaign; and we thank our associates in the military for their service to our country, our communities, and our company."

You Choose, Kroger Gives

Kroger has set aside $100,000 of the donations for customers to decide which of the USO's powerful programs will receive additional support. Customers can simply visit www.HonoringOurHeroes.com and click "You Choose Kroger Gives" to select from one of the four options and Kroger will donate $1 to the selected program.

Kroger also recognizes company employees and their families who are active and former military members on HonoringOurHeroes.com, where customers can read their stories, learn how to volunteer with the USO or make an individual donation.

Kroger and Redbox Team Up to Thank Our Veterans

From Nov. 11 – 13, 2014, customers can get a free Redbox movie rental by visiting a Redbox kiosk at any Kroger Family of Stores location and use the code "THANKAVET" to redeem a movie.

Honoring Our Heroes Year Round

Kroger's annual Honoring Our Heroes event is just one element of Kroger's year-round commitment to supporting members of the military and their families.

Kroger partnered with Coca-Cola, a founding partner of the USO, on a variety of programs in support of the USO in 2014.

• The Welcome Home Dinner program has provided returning troops with a thank you letter and gift certificates for a Deli Chicken and Coke meal at their local Kroger.  Through this Welcome Home program, and along with a monetary donation to the USO's 'No Dough Dinner' program, Coca-Cola has donated $60,000 in meals and funding to the USO together with Kroger. 
• During summer 2014, Coca-Cola and Kroger teamed up on their popular Share a Coke promotion to develop the exclusive Share a Coke Support the Troops campaign. Kroger family of stores customers helped donate 100,000 cans of Coke to the USO for troops and their families through their online views and digital sharing through Kroger's HonoringOurHeroes.com website.

In July, Kroger sponsored its first-ever Honoring Our Heroes 5k Race in Cincinnati, with all race proceeds being donated to the USO and local veterans support organizations.

Kroger remains committed to hiring veterans. Since 2009, more than 22,000 veterans have joined the company.

Kroger, one of the world's largest retailers, employs more than 375,000 associates who serve customers in 2,638 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 785 convenience stores, 324 fine jewelry stores, 1,275 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 grassroots organizations. Kroger contributes food and funds equal to 200 million meals a year through more than 100 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.

SOURCE The Kroger Co.

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