biz briefs 9-5

SPECIAL TO WEST HAWAII TODAY

Foodland Super Market Ltd. encourages customers to join its efforts to support Hawaii’s nonprofit organizations by participating in Give Aloha, Foodland’s annual community matching gifts program. The annual charitable-giving program runs Sept. 1 through 30 at all Foodland and Sack N Save stores statewide. Customers are invited to make donations of up to $249 to their favorite Hawaii nonprofit organization at checkout. Foodland will then match each donation up to a total of $300,000 for all organizations combined. A total of 73 Big Island organizations, from schools to churches, to human service groups are participating this year.

Give Aloha was created in 1999 to honor Foodland’s founder, Maurice J. “Sully” Sullivan, and continue his legacy of giving back to the community. Since the program began, more than $10.8 million has been raised for Hawaii’s charities.

“We are proud to continue Sully’s wonderful legacy through Give Aloha,” said Jenai Sullivan Wall, chairman and chief executive officer of Foodland Super Market Ltd. “Give Aloha encourages the spirit of giving my father believed in so deeply, it enables us to support the organizations that our customers support and, most of all, it is a true partnership between our company, our customers and our community. Together, we are building a better Hawaii.”

Nearly 600 nonprofit organizations have registered for participation in Give Aloha 2008. All Hawaii nonprofit 501(c)(3)organizations, or those with a sponsoring 501(c)(3) organization, including schools, churches and athletic teams, were invited to participate.

Here’s how Give Aloha works:

c Customers show their Maikai Card at any Foodland or Sack N Save checkout from now through Sept. 30.

c Customers tell the cashier that they would like to make a donation to their favorite Hawaii nonprofit organization.

c The cashier enters the organization’s registration code and the donation amount.

c The donation amount is added to the customer’s purchase total. Customers may give up to $249 per organization. Donations are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law.

c The amount donated and the name of the selected organization appears on the customer’s receipt.

Foodland will contribute up to a total of $300,000 for all organizations combined. Foodland’s matching gift will be divided proportionately among all participating organizations.

Donation totals for each organization will be announced in October, the month of Sully’s birth, and funds will be distributed by Oct. 31.

Foodland Super Market Ltd. was founded in 1948 by Maurice J. “Sully” Sullivan who opened Hawaii’s first supermarket at Market City. Today, this kamaaina company has 30 stores spanning four islands with approximately 2,500 employees.

For more information about Give Aloha, call Foodland at 732-0791.