Kroger and USO continue to support Honoring Our Heroes campaign

CINCINNATI, May 26, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The Kroger Co. announced today its continued commitment to the USO by donating $1 million to the organization. Kroger has been a proud supporter of active duty military, veterans and their families since 2010, raising over $18 million in support through corporate funds and customer donations during the Honoring Our Heroes campaign.

In an effort to bring families together around the table, Kroger will once again be partnering with the USO to host events for service members and their families across the country.  These events will serve as a special thank you for more than 3,000 people.

"While we can never do enough to thank members of the military and their families for the sacrifices they make to serve our country every day, we can bring them around the table to share a meal," said Jessica Adelman, Kroger's group vice president of corporate affairs. "We know that meals matter – that sharing a meal together is about more than satisfying hunger, it is about feeding the human spirit. That is why we're proud to support powerful USO programs like "no dough dinners" and sponsor our BBQ for the Troops events once again this year."

More than 2 million Americans serve on active duty or in the reserves, including many Kroger associates. Support for Honoring Our Heroes is a way to uplift service members and their families. 

"The USO is truly grateful for the Kroger family of stores and its ongoing commitment to our nation's men and women in uniform," said Lisa Anastasi, USO Chief Development Officer. "From hiring transitioning service members to in-store fundraising activations, Kroger continues to prove it is a dedicated Force Behind the Forces helping connect our service members and their families to the things they love and fight for."

Kroger's support for veterans is demonstrated in its commitment to hiring those who have served our country. The company has hired more than 35,000 veterans since 2009, and uniquely, hired more than 4,000 veterans and family members at a single day hiring event last November.

The Kroger Co. Family of Stores is providing a way for customers to honor our heroes from May to August.

• Honor Your Hero
  Customers have the opportunity to honor their personal heroes on the Honoring Our Heroes website by simply entering their name. In exchange for their submission, Kroger will display all of the submitted names on a special Hero Wall on the website.
• Purchase a Donation Card
  Customers may pick up a $5 or $10 donation card from the USO display in their local Kroger and present it at checkout. The tax deductible donation will be presented to a military family in need on a Kroger gift card.
• Give Your Hero a Gift Card
  When you give your hero a Kroger Gift Card, you're giving someone the opportunity to buy what they really need...or what they've always wanted to try. From the basics to the extras, give them the whole store on a patriotic Kroger Gift Card.
• Our Turn to Serve
  Kroger Co. Associates are proudly partnering with USO volunteers across the country to put on family BBQ's and picnics across the country as a way to show gratitude to service members and their families. Watch Kroger and USO volunteers in action.
• Share a Coke with a Meal
  Coca-Cola and Kroger are proud to honor our nation's heroes through our joint partnership with the USO. To provide a taste of home to the military and their families, Coca-Cola will be donating $50,000 to the USO. Purchasing a Coca-Cola product at The Kroger Co. Family of Stores shows your support of our nation's service members.

About the USO:
The USO strengthens America's military service members by keeping them connected to family, home and country, throughout their service to the nation. At hundreds of locations worldwide, we are united in our commitment to connect our service members and their families through countless acts of caring, comfort, and support. The USO is a private, non-profit organization, not a government agency. Our programs, services and entertainment tours are made possible by the American people, support of our corporate partners and the dedication of our volunteers and staff.

In addition to individual donors and corporate sponsors, the USO is supported by President's Circle Partners: AT&T, Bob & Dolores Hope Foundation, Clark Construction Group, LLC, The Coca-Cola Company, FedEx, Jeep, Johnson & Johnson, Kroger, NFL, Southern New Hampshire University and Four-Star Partners: Altria, BIC, ConAgra Foods, GEICO, Harris Teeter, Lockheed Martin, Microsoft, TKS, USAA and the Wawa Foundation. We are also supported through the United Way and Combined Federal Campaign (CFC-11381). To join us in this important mission, and to learn more about the USO, please visit uso.org.

About Kroger:
Every day, the Kroger Family of Companies makes a difference in the lives of eight and a half million customers and 443,000 associates who shop or serve in 2,796 retail food stores under a variety of local banner names in 35 states and the District of Columbia. Kroger and its subsidiaries operate an expanding ClickList offering – a personalized, order online, pick up at the store service – in addition to our 2,255 pharmacies, 784 convenience stores, 319 fine jewelry stores, 220 retail health clinics, 1,445 supermarket fuel centers and 38 food production plants in the United States. Kroger is recognized as one of America's most generous companies for its support of more than 100 Feeding America food bank partners, breast cancer research and awareness, the military and their families, and more than 145,000 community organizations including schools. A leader in supplier diversity, Kroger is a proud member of the Billion Dollar Roundtable.

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SOURCE The Kroger Co.

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