After years of responding to requests from numerous non-profit organizations, in 2006 Steve Ravitz asked store associates which charities they wanted to support. That was the beginning of the Community Partnership Committee.  Today, a representative group of employees meet monthly? quarterly? annually? to nominate charities.  Then, Ravitz Family Markets’ employees vote on the final list of non-profits to feature during month-long fundraising campaigns in our five stores.

Simply by asking customers to donate money or supplies, Ravitz Family Markets has raised more than $500,000 for non-profit organizations that help troops abroad, animals without a home, those without enough to eat, and patients suffering from a range of diseases. Between 2007 and 2012, here’s how much we’ve raised for each organization:

Atlantic City Armed Forces Parade-$1,000

Animal Welfare Association & Animal Charities of America-$21,200

Autism Speaks-$13,000

Boxes for Troops Overseas-$14,500

Cancer Charities-$13,900

Cheerios Hearts & Hands-$130,700

Check Out Hunger-$50,400

Children’s Hospital Foundation-$52,700

Haiti Relief Through the Salvation Army-$8,900

Hurricane Sandy Relief-$17,000

Juvenile Diabetes-$1,800

Make-A-Wish Foundation- $38,400

Muscular Dystrophy Association-$57,000

National Multiple Sclerosis- Society- $16,700

Patient Initiative Program-$1,000

Ronald McDonald House-$73,500

Special Olympics-$6,600

St. Jude’s Hospital for Children-$8,400

Susan Komen Breast Cancer Awareness-$12,100

Yellow Ribbon Club and Operation Yellow Ribbon-$84,500