CAMP HILL,
Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 5, 2001-- For Eighth Year, Rite Aid Associates Sell
$1 Paper Balloons at More Than 3,700 Stores Nationally
One-Hundred Percent of Funds Raised From March 5-April 13 Benefit Local
Children's Hospitals Across the U.S.
Rite Aid Corp. kicks-off
its national fundraising campaign for Children's Miracle Network today, Monday,
March 5.
During the campaign, which runs until April 15, more than 80,000 Rite Aid
associates at 3,700 stores across the country will sell $1 paper balloons to
customers to raise money for their local children's hospital.
Last year, Rite Aid associates raised $2.2 million for Children's Miracle
Network. One-hundred percent of the proceeds raised go to local children's
hospitals to benefit children's health programs. Rite Aid has raised over $8
million since 1994 for 110 pediatric hospitals.
Besides selling $1 paper balloons, Rite Aid associates have created their own
unique ideas to raise funds for the charity including bake sales, carnivals and
car washes.
Last year, one store manager in Elizabeth, PA lived on the roof of his store
for three days and two nights and raised over $4,000 in a community of only
1,400 residents. Executives at Rite Aid's headquarters in Harrisburg, PA washed
employees' cars for a day, raising $1,500 for the local children's hospital.
"One of Rite Aid's core values is that we are a caring neighbor, involved
in community activities in meaningful ways," said Mary Sammons, Rite Aid
president and COO.
"Rite Aid is committed to giving back to the local communities that we
serve. Our associates do an outstanding job of coming up with creative ways of
getting their communities involved in raising a lot of money for local children
who need help."
"Children's Miracle Network has worked very closely with Rite Aid and its
more than 80,000 associates for the past seven years," said John
Schneider, co-founder of Children's Miracle Network. They have proven
repeatedly that they can raise an astonishing amount of money that helps save
children's lives. Children's Miracle Network is proud to have Rite Aid on our
team."
Rite Aid Corporation is one of the nation's leading drugstore chains with
annual revenues of more than $14 billion and more than 3,700 stores in 30
states and the District of Columbia.
Rite Aid owns approximately 15 percent of AdvancePCS, the nation's largest
pharmacy benefits management and health improvement company, and approximately
15 percent of drugstore.com, a leading online source for health, beauty and
pharmacy products. Information about Rite Aid, including corporate background
and press releases, is available through the company's website at
www.riteaid.com.
CONTACT:
Rite Aid, Camp Hill
Jody Cook, 717/731-6566
or
Sarah Datz, 717/975-5718
KEYWORD: PENNSYLVANIA
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