The March of Dimes announced Publix Super Markets, Inc. as the number four team nationwide out of 22,000 corporate teams for WalkAmerica 2007. One of the ten largest-volume supermarket chains in the United States with locations in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama and Tennessee, Publix raised an incredible $3.1 million during its three week, in-store fund-raising campaign.

The company’s 926 stores and some 146,000 employees simply asked customers to donate a dollar to purchase a paper sneaker at the checkout and write their name or the name of a baby they would like to honor on the sneaker and display it inside the store.  Publix associates along with family and friends joined the Publix Team and supported local March of Dimes WalkAmerica campaigns by providing food, volunteers, and individual fund raising efforts.  In the South Carolina, Publix raised $178,686.

“Publix’s ability to fundraise and engage its customers at the grassroots level is at the heart of the campaign’s success,” said Rob Lucas, March of Dimes senior vice president of Revenue Development.  “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 WalkAmerica team, Publix Super Markets has raised more than $25 million for the March of Dimes.  

WalkAmerica, the March of Dimes largest fundraiser involving more than seven million people at 1,100 sites nationwide, brought in $117 million. In 2008, WalkAmerica is now called March for Babies. 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 participants can visit marchforbabies.org or call toll-free 803-252-5200 to sign up as an individual, or to start a corporate, or a family and friends team for 2008, or to donate to help the March of Dimes continue working to give every baby a healthy start in life.

Founded in 1930, Publix Super Markets is the largest and fastest-growing employee-owned supermarket chain in the United States with 926 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.

Last year, the South Carolina March of Dimes invested more than $4.2 million in program services, including research grants and local community services. Through these grants, the March of Dimes is seeking ways to prevent birth defects and infant death, reduce South Carolina’s increasing premature birth rate, increase access to prenatal care and educate men and women about having healthy babies. For more information about the March of Dimes in South Carolina, visit marchofdimes.com/southcarolina.

The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health.  With chapters nationwide and its signature event, March for Babies, the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies. For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.com or nacersano.org.