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