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The Starting Line. Wakefern’s Run/Walk Club kicked off its 2019 season in style, with dozens of associates completing the two-mile course in the Manasquan Mid-Winter Beach Run. It was the first of many races that Wakefern associates are invited to compete in this year. To promote health and wellness, Wakefern pays the entry fee for associates at dozens of local races.
A Stroke of Good Fortune. This May, weeks before the world’s best golfers compete in the ShopRite LPGA Classic, ShopRite will be collecting an award of its own. The Metropolitan Golf Writers Association will present ShopRite with the Bing Crosby Tournament Sponsor award at the organization’s awards dinner in Tarrytown, New York. The award is given annually to “an individual or organization that promotes and supports the game of golf through commercial sponsorship of quality events.” ShopRite first became the title sponsor of the tournament in 1992. Over the past two-and-a-half decades, the supermarket has been a big supporter of both the local golf scene and the local community. At last year’s tournament, ShopRite presented $1.4 million to charitable organizations that support area communities. Since beginning this rich partnership with the LPGA, ShopRite has donated more than $34 million to schools, hospitals, food banks and other local charities.
In Their Natural Habitat. It was 22 degrees outside, but that didn’t stop nearly a dozen Wakefern associates from volunteering their time at a Habitat for Humanity build in Plainfield. Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit organization that builds homes for people in need, then sets them up with an affordable mortgage. To build those homes, the organization relies on volunteers. On a recent January morning, Wakefern associates rolled up their sleeves and went to work. Associates spent most of the five-hour shift installing insulation. When volunteers arrived that morning, the home didn’t have a single piece of insulation attached to its walls. By the end of the day, the entire second floor and most of the ground floor had been coated. Wakefern also donated $25,000 to Habitat for Humanity’s Home for a Hero project, which will go toward building a home for a veteran in Perth Amboy. Wakefern associates will be volunteering at that site on Saturday, Feb. 23.
True Generosity. Wakefern associates were extremely generous in 2018. They not only donated money to causes that stirred their passions; they also logged on to Wakefern Acts – the company’s matching gifts platform – to ensure their favorite charities received even more funding. Between donations and matching funds, the company donated $23,893 in 2018. That money helped support 75 different causes, from college scholarship programs to the Special Olympics.
Taking Care of Our Customers. Newsweek recently named ShopRite one of the top customer service retailers in the country. Newsweek surveyed more than 20,000 American customers, quizzing each participant about various companies’ technical competence, communication quality and accessibility. The digital publication also asked customers how likely they were to recommend the brand to friends and family.
Valuable Lessons. Nearly two dozen Wakefern associates graduated from Dale Carnegie’s Immersion course in December. Hundreds of Wakefern professionals have now taken the six-week course, which puts an emphasis on leadership and self-confidence.
Waste Not. The Ravitz family was honored by the Environmental Protection Agency for its waste diversion efforts. In 2017 alone, the family’s Price Rite Marketplace of Camden location reduced the amount of food headed for landfills by 21 percent. Store associates played a big part in that reduction by making food donations to those in need and ensuring that leftover food winds up in the compost pile. The Ravitz family has been an EPA Food Waste Recovery partner – and Wakefern, an endorser – for several years. Both organizations put an emphasis on using recycling programs that reduce their environmental impact.
Pretty Special. Wakefern was honored with the Outstanding Volunteer Group award at Special Olympics New Jersey’s 2018 awards dinner. Every June, more than 400 Wakefern associates spend their weekend at The College of New Jersey, volunteering their time at the Special Olympics New Jersey Summer Games. Over three days, Wakefern associates help feed nearly 15,000 athletes, family members and fans.
Pomp and Circumstance. Three dozen associates graduated from Wakefern’s Supervisor Elite program last month. The program offers participants lessons in communication, people skills, crisis management, conflict, delegation and coaching.
Blanket Them With Kindness. Cozies 4 Chemo is a non-profit organization that provides hand-tied fleece blankets for cancer patients going through chemotherapy treatments. On a recent Monday, a group of Wakefern Wholesale associates met after work to make blankets for this wonderful cause. In less than three hours, associates completed 19 blankets for adults and children, in a variety of colors and patterns, including dinosaurs and frogs. The adult blankets will be donated to Regional Cancer Care Associates in Monmouth County and the children’s blankets will be donated to Jersey Shore University Medical Center.