DUARTE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--City of Hope’s annual Kids 4 Hope program, in partnership with Albertsons Companies Foundation, Vons Foundation and Pavilions Foundation, has raised over $1 million to support research and treatment for pediatric cancers.
For this year’s Kids 4 Hope program, Albertsons, Vons and Pavilions grocery stores collected donations from customers and employees in 349 stores across Southern California from Jan. 31 to Feb. 21. Customers raised $1,063,433, which exceeded the $864,000 raised during last year’s program.
“City of Hope is extremely grateful for the generosity of Albertsons, Vons and Pavilions customers and employees who supported the Kids 4 Hope program,” said Joseph Rosenthal, M.D., City of Hope Barron Hilton Chair in Pediatrics and chief of the Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology. “Each and every donation will help us advance our lifesaving research and treatment for our youngest patients battling blood cancers and other devastating diseases.”
“We are incredibly proud to continue to expand our support and partnership with City of Hope’s groundbreaking pediatric programming,” said Shane Dorcheus, Southern California Division President of Albertsons, Vons and Pavilions. “Our company and our employees are committed to serving the communities we live and serve, and we are hopeful this donation will help provide a bright future to the children under the care of City of Hope.”
Since 2015, thanks to the kindness and generosity of Albertsons, Vons and Pavilions, and their customers, Kids 4 Hope has raised over $3.4 million. Those donations help bolster research and treatment, as well as supportive care and educational programs, for City of Hope’s Pediatric Cancer Program, including promising work in the areas of pediatric leukemia research and support for adolescents and young adults battling cancer.
Kids 4 Hope is a program through City of Hope's Southern California Food Industries Circle (SCFIC). The program, which encourages shoppers to make donations benefiting City of Hope's pediatrics program during checkout, is in its 13th year, and has raised more than $10 million since its inception.
Celebrating 45 years of dedication, the SCFIC is one of the largest industry volunteer pillars of support for City of Hope, counting more than 1,100 leading retailers, suppliers, manufacturers, distributors and brokers within its ranks. To date, the SCFIC has raised more than $145 million for City of Hope.
About Albertsons Companies Foundation, Vons Foundation and Pavilions Foundation
Founded in 2001, Albertsons Companies Foundation, formerly the Safeway Foundation, supports causes that impact our customers' lives. Albertsons Companies stores provide the opportunity to mobilize funding and create awareness in our neighborhoods through the generous contributions by our customers, our employees' passion and partnerships with our vendors. We focus on giving locally in the areas of health and human services, hunger relief, education and helping people with disabilities. Albertsons Companies and Albertsons Companies Foundation have invested $2 billion in our neighborhoods since 2001. For more information about Albertsons Companies Foundation, visit www.albertsonscompaniesfoundation.org.
About City of Hope
City of Hope is an independent research and treatment center for cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases. Designated as one of only 49 comprehensive cancer centers, the highest recognition bestowed by the National Cancer Institute, City of Hope is also a founding member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, with research and treatment protocols that advance care throughout the world. City of Hope’s main campus is in Duarte, California, just northeast of Los Angeles, with additional locations throughout Southern California. It is ranked as one of "America's Best Hospitals" in cancer by U.S. News & World Report. Founded in 1913, City of Hope is a pioneer in the fields of bone marrow transplantation, diabetes and numerous breakthrough cancer drugs based on technology developed at the institution. For more information about City of Hope, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or Instagram.