One of the 10 largest-volume supermarket chains in the United States with locations in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama and Tennessee, Publix customers and associates raised an incredible $3.1 million during its three week, in-store fund-raising campaign.  Publix raised $1,841,702 in Florida and is the number one team in the state.

(Photo above: March of Dimes Florida Bay Ambassador Family and Tampa Bay Buccaneer Matt Bryant with wife Melissa present the March for Babies National Team Award to Publix Super Markets, President Todd Jones).

The company’s 932 stores and some 142,000 employees simply asked customers to donate a dollar to purchase a paper sneaker at the checkout and write their own name or the name of a baby to display inside the store.  Publix associates coupled with family and friends joined the Publix Team and supported local March for Babies campaigns by providing food, volunteers, and individual fund raising efforts.

“Publix’s ability to fundraise and engage its customers at the grassroots level is at the heart of the campaign’s success,” said Debbie Dawson, State Director of the March of Dimes Florida Chapter.  “They continue to be a leader among our top corporate teams with associates from their five-state foot print once again proving they have outstanding fund-raising skills.”  In their 10-year involvement as a sponsor and March for Babies team, Publix Super Markets has raised more than $26 million for the March of Dimes with the help of their generous customers and committed associates.

(Photo: March of Dimes presented the Miami Division the National Team Award during a recent meeting. (Left to right) Publix Media and Community Relations Manager Kim Jaeger; March of Dimes Jacquie Nicolson; Publix Regional Directors: Chuck White, Richard Rhoads, and Mike Meredith; with Publix Vice President of Retail Operations, Bill Fauerbach; and March of Dimes Julie Salas).

The new name makes a clear connection to what the March of Dimes is all about – the health of babies, those born healthy as well as those who need help to survive and thrive.  In addition to a new name, March for Babies has a new Web site.  Interested walkers and donors can visit marchforbabies.org or call toll-free 1-800-525-9255.

Founded in 1930, Publix Super Markets is the largest and fastest-growing employee-owned supermarket chain in the United States with 932 stores in five states across the southeast.  More information about Publix Super Markets is available on their Web site at http://www.publix.com/  under the “About Us” section.