CAMP HILL, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Over Memorial Day weekend, The Rite Aid Foundation KidCent’s program announced a three-year, $6 million commitment to Folds of Honor, a nonprofit organization based in Owasso, Okla., dedicated to providing educational scholarships to children of fallen or disabled service members. The donation is the second made to Folds of Honor by The Rite Aid Foundation’s KidCents program; it previously awarded more than $1.3 million to the organization in 2015 to support educational scholarships for children of fallen or disabled service members in the communities served by Rite Aid.
Ken Martindale, CEO of Rite Aid stores and president of Rite Aid Corporation, who also serves as president of The Rite Aid Foundation, announced the donation alongside Major Dan Rooney, Folds of Honor Founder, during the Patriot Cup Invitational, the organization’s annual golf tournament and gala celebrating the nation’s heroes and raising funds for Folds of Honor.
During the same event, Folds of Honor also announced a new initiative, DreamShip, designed to raise awareness and inspire people across the country to support the organization. The Rite Aid Foundation is supporting DreamShip in its inaugural launch, scheduled for later this year.
A fully operational hot air balloon, DreamShip will raise awareness about Folds of Honor while it travels the country, serving as a constant symbol of the commitment made by the organization, its partners and donors, to honor the nation’s fallen and disabled service members and their families.
Just as special as the organization itself, the fabric of the hot air balloon will showcase artwork created by Folds of Honor scholarship recipients symbolizing their hopes and dreams for the future. Standing eight stories tall, with every launch, DreamShip will lift up the dreams of children helped by Folds of Honor, both physically and metaphorically.
“The Rite Aid Foundation’s KidCents program is honored by the opportunity to deepen our support of this incredible organization and bring our Company’s core value of being a caring neighbor to life in such a meaningful way,” said Martindale. “Working closely with Folds of Honor over the past year, we’ve seen firsthand the fantastic difference they’re making in the lives of children of fallen and disabled service members. We’ve been touched by their stories of how Folds of Honor has forever changed their lives and couldn’t help but be compelled to do more for them and their families who have already sacrificed so much.”
Folds of Honor was founded in 2007 by Major Dan Rooney, an F-16 fighter pilot in the Oklahoma Air National Guard who served three tours of duty in Iraq. Since its inception, Folds of Honor has awarded more than 10,000 scholarships to the family members of fallen or disabled service members.
“Since joining the Folds of Honor family last year, Rite Aid, its associates and customers have taken on our mission as their own and have partnered with us as we work tirelessly to honor the sacrifices made by our service men and women, their families and children,” said Rooney. “We could not ask for a more dedicated partner and are so thankful for Rite Aid’s continued generosity and commitment to ensuring the legacy of our service members live on by supporting the educational endeavors of their children.”
KidCents was developed by The Rite Aid Foundation to provide Rite Aid customers an opportunity to do even more to help the kids in the communities Rite Aid serves. Through KidCents, members of Rite Aid Aid's wellness+ with Plenti program can round up their in-store or online purchases to the nearest dollar and give their change to one of more than 360 nonprofit organizations, including Folds of Honor, focused on improving the health and wellbeing of children.
Nonprofit organizations interested in participating in The Rite Aid Foundation's KidCents program can visit www.kidcents.com/apply to submit an application. To be eligible, an organization must be classified as exempt from federal tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service Code and meet the KidCents program guidelines. For more information, visit www.kidcents.com.
The Rite Aid Foundation has awarded nearly $25 million since 2001 to non-profit organizations. Additionally, Rite Aid, through the efforts of its customers, supplier partners and associates, has also raised more than $75 million for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals across the country since 1994.
Rite Aid Corporation (NYSE: RAD) is one of the nation's leading drugstore chains with nearly 4,600 stores in 31 states and the District of Columbia and fiscal 2016 annual revenues of $30.7 billion. Information about Rite Aid, including corporate background and press releases, is available through the company's website at www.riteaid.com.
Folds of Honor is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides educational scholarships for the children and spouses of those fallen or disabled while on active duty. For more information, visit www.foldsofhonor.org.
