IGA donates $245,000 to Wounded Warrior Project

The Independent Grocers Alliance Inc. (IGA), Chicago, said it presented a donation of $245,000 to Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) as part of its fifth-annual IGA exclusive-brand donation initiative. This donation pushed IGA’s five-year contribution to well over $1 million.

During the promotional period in 2015, participating IGA stores featured specially branded IGA exclusive-brand water, hot dog and hamburger buns, and ice cream, resulting in nearly $190,000 of the donation. Additionally, IGA said it raised more than $55,000 through its retailers’ own fundraising efforts, the IGA WWP Golf Tournament held this summer and, new this year, IGA/WWP-brand reusable bag sales. To date, IGA has donated a total of $1,215,000 to WWP over a five-year period.

“For nearly 90 years now, IGA has been known as the brand that lends a helping hand in communities all across the United States,” said Dave Bennett, senior vice president, procurement and exclusive brands, IGA, “so when IGA looked to align with a cause that mattered to our IGA shoppers and would give us an opportunity to create a long-term, meaningful difference, Wounded Warrior Project was an obvious choice.

“Now five years later, we can proudly say that IGA’s independent retailers and the communities they serve have come together to support Wounded Warriors not just through IGA WWP-branded product sales, but in all kinds of creative ways, like fundraising events, pin-up programs, and parking lot barbecues,” he continued. “It’s that kind of over-and-above support that has enabled our IGA retailers to raise more than $1 million for WWP in the course of the last five years, and that will keep this program a success as we move forward.”

IGA said it presented the donation at WWP headquarters in Jacksonville, Fla., on Oct. 7. Present from IGA were Wayne Altschul, vice president, exclusive brands; Heidi Huff, director of marketing; and Tony Groszew and John Verrone, team members of Adams Hometown Market IGA. Groszew and Verrone represented IGA retailers at the check presentation. Their stores’ summer events and pinup programs raised nearly $16,000 for the IGA WWP program.

“The generosity that IGA has demonstrated time and time again is what allows our organization to fulfill its mission of honoring and empowering Wounded Warriors,” said Gary Corless, vice president of strategic giving, WWP. “We are extremely thankful for IGA’s independent retailers and their shoppers for their kindness and generosity. Their support helps to provide critical resources to the warriors, families and caregivers Wounded Warrior Project serves through 20 free life-saving programs and services.”