Shopko Foundation Awards $13,000 in Community Service Grants

GREEN BAY, Wis., May 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Shopko Foundation is happy to have recently awarded $13,000 in grants to charitable organizations in 6 states on behalf of Shopko teammates. Since 2007, the Shopko Foundation has proudly awarded over $200,000 to charitable groups through the Teammate Community Service Grant Program.  The Shopko Foundation awards Teammate Community Service Grants twice annually to recognize and support Shopko teammates who volunteer their time for a non-profit organization in their communities. 

"Shopko has always been committed to giving back in the communities where we serve customers," said Paul Jones, Shopko President and CEO.  "The Shopko Foundation recognizes the importance of volunteers to the community and values our teammates' personal involvement and dedication to improve their community and help others.  We are proud to sponsor these charitable causes that are supported in a meaningful way by our teammates."

The following organizations were recognized by teammates and have each received Shopko Teammate Community Service Grants in the amount of $1000.

• Worthington-Crailsheim International, Inc. (MN)
• Muscular Dystrophy Association (WI)
• NEW Community Shelter (WI)
• Heart and Sole Cancer Walk (SD)
• Lincoln Arts Council (NE)
• NEW Apple Corps Robotics Team (WI)
• Cellcom Green Bay Marathon (WI) 
• Meridian Food Bank (ID) 
• OccuPaws Guide Dog Association (WI) 
• Barron County 4-H and Youth Therapeutic Horse Riders Program (WI)
• Unity Hospice (WI)
• MN Women of Today Foundation (MN)
• American Diabetes Association (WA)

About Shopko

Founded in 1962 and headquartered in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Shopko Stores Operating Co., LLC is a $3 billion retailer that operates almost 350 stores in 22 states throughout the Midwest, Mountain, North Central and Pacific Northwest regions. Retail formats include 134 Shopko stores, providing quality name-brand merchandise, great values, pharmacy and optical services in small to mid-sized cities; 5 Shopko Express Rx stores, a convenient neighborhood drugstore concept; and 10 Shopko Hometown locations, a smaller concept store developed to meet the needs of smaller communities.  Shopko is in the process of converting over 170 recently-acquired stores and pharmacies to the Shopko Hometown brand.  For more information, visit www.shopko.com.

About the Shopko Foundation

Founded in 2007, the Shopko Foundation is a 501(c)(3) corporation operated exclusively for charitable purposes.  To maximize its impact, the Foundation has a narrow focus on areas of giving that support the health of Shopko customers, teammates and communities. The Foundation also recognizes that education is fundamental to an individual's health and functionality in society. Funds support established non-profit organizations with a proven record of success in maintaining solid, critical programs or innovative new organizations and programs supported by established non-profits or successful leadership.  The Foundation issues grants to support organizations or programs that help citizens of all ages maintain or improve their physical health and help students succeed in school and become self-sufficient adults.

For more information, visit www.shopko.com/foundation.

SOURCE Shopko