Touchdown for Charity! Raising Funds for Those in Need

ShopRite Hosts the 2nd Annual Taste of the Giants Benefit

On a chilly October evening, guests arriving at the Second Annual Taste of the Giants benefit were met with the magical sight of favorite players, such as Justin Tuck and Brandon Jacobs, signing autographs and posing for pictures under a white tent and twinkling lights. Mingling with players, live and silent auctions -- there was plenty on the agenda to keep guests entertained throughout the evening. Guests and players alike also enjoyed tastings of signature dishes from more than 20 top New Jersey and New York City restaurants, such as Tao and Scalini Fedeli. An additional highlight of the evening included guided tours of Giants Stadium.

Proceeds from the event, which was sponsored by Kraft Foods totaled $105,000 and were donated to the ShopRite Partners In Caring Fund. Thanks, Big Blue!

(photo above, left) Kevin Dockery, New York Giants Cornerback, poses with a fan.

(photo bottom, right) Future NFL hopefuls proudly show off their newly autographed footballs.

Michael Strahan Joins the ShopRite of Wallkill Team

At checkout lane four, Michael Strahan asked customers at the ShopRite of Wallkill that age-old question: paper or plastic?

Strahan, former New York Giants Defensive End, paid a very special visit to the ShopRite of Wallkill this past August. As the winning store in the ShopRite Partners In Caring Pringles Contest, the ShopRite of Wallkill was awarded a visit from Strahan, who graciously spent the day bagging groceries and posing for pictures with customers and associates.

The ShopRite of Wallkill was the winning store out of more than 200 participating ShopRite stores in an associate contest designed to raise funds to help feed the hungry in our area. Strahan’s special appearance served as the grand prize for this winning store.

“Our store associates worked very hard during this contest to raise funds to help in the fight against hunger,” said Rich Martin, ShopRite of Wallkill store manager. “We were so excited to be the winning store and honored to have the opportunity to work with Michael Strahan for the day. And our customers loved it too!”

ShopRite and Pringles launched this contest in May 2008. ShopRite stores sold an astonishing total of a quarter of a million cans of Pringles during a two-week period, raising $116,000 to benefit the ShopRite Partners In Caring Fund.

J-E-T-S! Jets, Jets, Jets!

Players Join ShopRite in the Fight Against Hunger

The Edison Ballroom in New York City was “teaming” with football players and fans last May at the much-anticipated Sixth Annual New York Jets Taste of the NFL benefit. The players joined ShopRite and Kraft Foods to raise funds for ShopRite Partners In Caring. Guests mingled with Jets players such as Nick Mangold (photo, right) and D’Brickashaw Ferguson while feasting on some of the area’s top restaurant creations.

While the athletes signed autographs and enchanted all with rousing tales of games won and lost, guests bid on live and silent auctions, all in the name of charity.

“I participate in this annual event because I truly believe in the good work of the ShopRite Partners In Caring program,” said Michael Stewart, owner of Tavern on Jane and Taste of the NFL participant for the past five years. “In one evening alone, the tremendous good will and support that is raised for this hunger-fighting initiative is enough to make this New Yorker very proud.”

A total of $170,000 was raised at the 2008 event in support of the ShopRite Partners In Caring Fund.

(photo above, left) Nick Mangold, Center for the New York Jets, autographs a football for a fan.

(photo above, right) New York Jets Fullback, Tony Richardson, poses with two young fans.

“When hunger stops, so will we.” — Foodshare

Connecticut’s Convoy of Caring

A 21-mile truck convoy set out on a bright fall morning loaded up with more than 75 tons of food; for those in need -- approximately 200,000 meals. The convoy had a single destination on its route map -- Foodshare

Foodshare is a food bank serving the greater Hartford, Conn. area. Providing an average 14 tons of food each day to a network of 400 local nonprofit organizations, Foodshare is an annual recipient of ShopRite Partners In Caring funds.

In addition to this annual support, ShopRite has been participating in the convoy for many years, donating pallets of nonperishable food items to stock the food bank’s shelves. And so, in the early hours of a September morning, a ShopRite truck, loaded with goods, took its place in the convoy, bringing with it sustenance, a bit of sunshine and the promise of a better day.

A Community Partnership

Bringing Food Stamp Awareness to ShopRite Customers

Enrolling eligible families in New Jersey’s Food Stamp Program is one of the many ways that ShopRite stores are helping to support those struggling with hunger. ShopRite stores have collaborated with the New Jersey Anti-Hunger Coalition, the County Welfare Directors Association of New Jersey and the Community FoodBank of New Jersey in this initiative to bring awareness to those in need who may be unaware of their eligibility for assistance.

“When we learned that only 58 percent of those eligible for food stamps were actually receiving them, we wanted to step in to raise awareness of this benefit,” said Christine Magyarits, community relations manager for ShopRite. “In the privacy of the mobile van, ShopRite customers were able to quickly find out whether they were eligible for this service, and they could register for benefits right on the spot.”

The Essex County Mobile Citizen Services Office has already traveled to six ShopRite stores located in areas of “high need” to put Food Stamp information right into the hands of ShopRite customers. For information on the Essex County Mobile Citizen Services Office and its scheduled stops at ShopRite stores, please visit www.shopritepartnersincaring.org.

(photo above) The Essex County Mobile Citizen Services Office open for business in a ShopRite parking lot.

Grand Tasting Presented by ShopRite

New York City’s Pier 54, a former pier shed for ocean liners, is not much more than a concrete slab on the Hudson River, overlooking New Jersey. Located in New York City’s trendy Meatpacking District, the well-known steel arch at the entrance of the pier (remnants of a once-grand building built for ocean liner passengers) and the 55,000 square feet of raw space behind it were transformed into a culinary exposition for the Grand Tasting Presented by ShopRite, an event that was part of the Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival.

On Oct. 11 and 12, 2008, foodies and wine aficionados alike were treated to a lavish assortment of culinary treats during two three-hour sessions each day. The proceeds from this entire event were donated to the Food Bank for New York City and Share Our Strength.

“This festival provided a wonderful opportunity to give additional support to the hunger-fighting organizations we serve,” said Joe Gozzi, director of Specialty Foods for ShopRite. “This was the first year we participated in this event and it was a great success. We definitely plan to do it again in the years ahead.”

The Grand Tasting Presented by ShopRite was featured as a part of the Wine & Food Festival presented by the Food Network, Food & Wine and Travel + Leisure magazines. Attendees enjoyed high-quality culinary creations by ShopRite’s Culinary Workshop Corporate Executive Chef Faith Alahverdian, in a unique setting in the Grand Tasting Presented by ShopRite tent. This event also included several seminars and food samplings throughout the neighborhood surrounding Pier 54. During the event, a total of $1 million in funds was raised for the Food Bank for New York City and Share Our Strength.

(photo above) ShopRite’s Culinary Workshop Chef Instructor Monica Walton and ShopRite’s Culinary Workshop Corporate Executive Chef Faith Alahverdian.

Athletes Compete for Coveted Trophy:
The ShopRite Cup

The ShopRite Cup -- that coveted recognition of high school athletic excellence — was awarded to six winning schools for the 2007-2008 school year in the Fifth Annual ShopRite Cup Competition. This competition is sponsored by ShopRite stores and coordinated by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) to honor New Jersey’s top-performing high school athletic programs.

To qualify for this distinguished award, schools earned ShopRite Cup points during the school year based on their performance in championship games in 32 individual sports sanctioned by the NJSIAA. ShopRite Cup points are also awarded to schools that exhibit true sportsmanship and good will. The six schools with the highest totals are named winners!

“This program has become much more than just a competition among these schools,” said Steve Timko, executive director of the NJSIAA. “The overwhelming teamwork and good sportsmanship that the contest evokes in these kids is the real draw. Win or lose, we are so pleased to provide these students with an opportunity to shine.”

For the 2007–2008 school year, 430 New Jersey high schools (both public and nonpublic) participated in the ShopRite Cup competition (winners pictured below):

Haddonfield Memorial H.S.	Holy Cross H.S.
Hunterdon Central H.S.	Immaculate Heart H.S.
Moorestown H.S.	Metuchen H.S.

In addition to the ShopRite Cup, the company awarded $1,000 scholarships to 25 scholar athletes from high schools throughout the state.

“I am amazed at the solidarity and support these kids exhibit during the contest each year,” said Lefteris Banos, athletic director of Haddonfield Memorial High School which has competed for, and won, the ShopRite Cup each year since the contest first began. “In addition to the fun and excitement it brings every year, this contest provides my students with a real life-lesson on the importance of teamwork and good sportsmanship.”

ShopRite Races for the Cure in Essex County’s Branch Brook Park

ShopRite was there with loud cheers -- and bottles of water -- as breast cancer survivors, their families and friends, as well as the families and friends of those lost to the disease, crossed the much-anticipated finish line at the Inaugural Susan G. Komen North Jersey Race for the Cure® at the Essex County Branch Brook Park in Newark, N.J.

ShopRite sponsored this May 4, 2008 event, providing breakfast for all 12,000 runners and packing with care more than 1,000 specially boxed lunches for the survivors in attendance.

“It means so much to have a name like ShopRite behind our cause,” said Deborah Q. Belfatto (in the center of the photo above), executive director and co-founder of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure’s North Jersey Affiliate. “The countless survivors, family and friends that run in this race are putting their whole hearts into the fight against breast cancer. Having the might and spirit of the ShopRite team right there with us provides us with inspiration and support that we can always count on.”

This year’s Susan G. Komen North Jersey Race for the Cure is scheduled for April 26, 2009. The Komen Race for the Cure Series raises significant funds and awareness for the fight against breast cancer, celebrates breast cancer survivorship and honors those who have lost their battle with the disease.

(photo above) N.J. Governor Jon Corzine helps kick-off the race in a ribbon cutting ceremony with members of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure’s North Jersey affiliate.

For more information about ShopRite's community programs, call 1-800-ShopRite, explore the ShopRite website or visit www.shopritepartnersincaring.org