Giant raises more than $400K for Healing Our Planet initiative
Through its Healing Our Planet initiative, Giant has raised $403,360 in partnership with its customers to support Planet Bee Foundation and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful. During the month of May, customers at Giant, Martin’s and Giant Heirloom Market stores were invited to round up their grocery purchases to the nearest dollar to support each organization.
“Action inspires action and small changes such as tree plantings and pollinator awareness can make a big difference when it comes to helping our planet, so thank you to our customers who rounded up at the register to support these green initiatives,” said Courtney Hopcraft, manager of charitable giving and community relations at Giant. Over the four years of our Healing the Planet campaign, more than $6 million has been raised to grow health and sustainability initiatives centric to creating healthier communities and a more sustainable future.”
Announced earlier this month, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful in partnership with Giant announced it will award Healing the Planet grants later this summer to local community organizations for tree plantings across Pennsylvania. Additional funding from Giant Company will support Pick Up Pennsylvania and local clean up, recycling and greening events.
[Read more: Giant releases community impact report]
“Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful is grateful to The Giant Company for their support of native tree planting in their operating areas in Pennsylvania. Funding will also support our Pick Up Pennsylvania program, so we can continue to meet the needs of families, friends, neighbors, civic groups, nonprofits and municipalities working towards a clean and beautiful Pennsylvania,” said Shannon Reiter, president of Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful. “Cleaning and beautifying communities tends to reduce littering and other illegal behaviors, making it a better place for all residents and providing a foundation for community and economic development.”
Planet Bee Foundation drives awareness for pollinators and the importance of bees as a pathway to STEM, conservation and innovations in agriculture. Funding raised by Giant will support local beekeepers, research programs and school and community programs.
"On behalf of Planet Bee Foundation, I wish to extend our deepest gratitude to The Giant Company for their donation, which has educated and impacted over 109,000 youth. Their generosity has sponsored STEM and Agriculture Education programs in schools, provided supplies to teachers, offered grants to local beekeepers, provided education at public events, and maintained beehives in community gardens, exemplifying their commitment to local communities,” said Debra Tomaszewski, founder and executive director of Planet Bee Foundation. “We are humbled and inspired by The Giant Company's commitment to sustainability, the health of our planet, and the well-being of the families they serve.”
[Read more; Giant recognizes team members at annual business meeting]