Publix Super Markets Raised $2.8 Million During the 2009 March of Dimes March for Babies Campaign, Earning the Supermarket Chain the #4 Spot in the Country for Top March of Dimes Corporate Teams

Lakeland, FL — Earlier this month at the March of Dimes Annual Volunteer Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C., Publix Super Markets, Inc. took home the number four team award nationwide out of the 20,000 corporate teams for March for Babies 2009, D.C.  One of the 10 largest-volume supermarket chains in the United States with locations in Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina, and Alabama, Publix raised an incredible $2.8 million during its three-week, in-store fund-raising campaign.

The company’s 1,012 stores and some 138,000 employees received donations from customers and associates that participated in activities and events, and purchased a March for Babies cutout to show their support.  Publix associates, along with family and friends, also joined the Publix Team and supported local March of Dimes March for Babies campaigns by providing food, volunteers, and individual fund raising efforts.  Locally, in the Music City Division, Publix raised $60,000.

“Publix continues to be a leader among our top corporate teams,” said Paula Howell, Vice President, March of Dimes East Region.  “The company and its associates are raising as much in five states as many companies are that have a national footprint!  Their ability to engage customers at the grassroots level is at the heart of the campaign’s fund-raising success.” 
Throughout their 14-year involvement as a sponsor and March for Babies team, Publix Super Markets has raised more than $32 million for the March of Dimes.  

Founded in 1930, Publix Super Markets is the largest and fastest-growing employee-owned supermarket chain in the United States with 1,014 stores in five states across the southeast.  More information about Publix Super Markets is available on their Web site at www.publix.com under the “About Us” section.

Each week in the state of Tennessee, 240 babies are born prematurely.  In 2009, the Tennessee Chapter of the March of Dimes invested more than $3,000,000 in Tennessee for program services, including national research grants, community grants, and local public and professional education. Through these grants, the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies.  For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.com/tennessee, nacersano.org., or givingmatters.com

The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health.  Companies and individuals can join the 2010 March for Babies online at marchforbabies.org/kickoff2010.
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