The Company will donate 1% of all
purchases on January 15, 2024, to the JJ College GAP
Fund.
LAKEWOOD, Colo., Jan. 11,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Natural Grocers®, the leading
family-operated organic and natural grocery retailer in the U.S.,
is pleased to announce its upcoming in-store fundraising campaign
in support of the Jack and Jill of America Foundation (JJOAF) on
January 15, 2024. The company
is on a mission to raise $60,000 or
more for JJOAF's College Graduation Assistance Program (GAP) Fund
by donating a portion of their sales at their stores
nationwide.
Since 2019, the GAP Fund has facilitated
the graduation of over 1,300 HBCU students.
The GAP Fund is used to provide scholarship endowments to
directly satisfy tuition debt of students attending Historically
Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Natural Grocers pledges to
donate 1% of sales from its 167 stores, in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day to help students
attending HBCUs achieve their goals.[i]
"Since 2019, our GAP Fund has facilitated the graduation of over
1,300 HBCU students. In May 2023, we
invested $239,000 in 258 graduates
across eight schools," said Pier Blake, Executive Director of the
Jack and Jill of America Foundation. "This underscores our
dedication to fostering futures filled with opportunities and
success."
Jack and Jill of America Foundation is the philanthropic arm of
Jack and Jill of America, Incorporated (JJOA, Inc.). In 1968,
mother members of Jack and Jill of America, Incorporated—the
largest and most prominent African American family
organization—established Jack and Jill of America Foundation as a
charitable entity to address social issues and problems affecting
African American communities, families, and children. Currently,
Jack and Jill of America, Incorporated families (mother members,
fathers, children, teens, and associates) play a significant role
in charitable giving and fundraising to the foundation and beyond,
collectively raising more than $2
million annually.
GRATITUDE AND INSPIRATION
A GAP Fund beneficiary
recently expressed the positive impact of this financial assistance
in her life, illustrating the importance of the program.
Delores N. Bivini, University of the
District of Columbia (UDC) Alumni, stated, "After receiving
support from the Foundation, I completed my bachelor's degree in
management information systems and recently earned a master's in
business administration with a specialization in Marketing. This
academic journey paved the way for my career. I'm now leading a
marketing department in a prominent company and interning at my
country's embassy in their Department of Business and Trade. My
career has taken an exciting and fulfilling path, thanks to the
initial support I received from the Foundation. I urge anyone who
can to support the Jack and Jill of America Foundation. Your
contribution makes a significant difference, uplifting thousands of
students like me. The impact you have on our lives today is
immeasurable, and its ripple effects will continue to be felt in
the future. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart."
SUPPORTING COMMUNITIES TOGETHER
The partnership between Natural Grocers and Jack and Jill of
America was born of a shared value system of commitment to the
communities and families they serve through education and
empowerment.
Natural Grocers has a longstanding history of giving back to its
communities since it was established in 1955. With 167 stores in 21
states, Natural Grocers' commitment is manifested by supporting the
health and wellbeing of its communities with free Nutrition
Education and high-quality affordable health and wellness choices
that are accessible to all.
In addition to the national fundraising campaign on January
15, 2024, the partnership extends to a year-round give-back program
with 13 JJOA, Inc. chapters based in Colorado, Texas, Oregon, and Arkansas. Members in participating JJOA, Inc.
chapters in these markets have received a Natural Grocers + Jack
and Jill of America Partnership card, which when presented at a
Natural Grocers checkout automatically triggers an uncapped 5% of
sales give-back to the Jack and Jill of America organizations —
2.5% goes back to their JJOA, Inc. chapter and 2.5% goes to the
JJOAF HBCU Gap Fund. Members can also receive additional cards to
share with friends and family.
Visit the Natural Grocers' Store Directory to find the nearest
participating store. Additional details on the partnership can be
found here.
- Click here to learn more about the Jack and Jill of America
Foundation and the College GAP Fund.
- Click here to directly support the College GAP Fund and educate
students from HBCUs.
- For media inquiries contact kmacarelli@naturalgrocers.com.
ABOUT NATURAL GROCERS BY VITAMIN COTTAGE
Founded in
1955, Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc. (NYSE: NGVC) is an
expanding specialty retailer of natural and organic groceries, body
care products, and dietary supplements. The products sold by
Natural Grocers must meet strict quality guidelines and may not
contain artificial colors, flavors, preservatives or sweeteners, or
partially hydrogenated or hydrogenated oils. The Company sells only
USDA-certified organic produce and exclusively pasture-raised,
non-confinement dairy products, and free-range eggs. Natural
Grocers' flexible smaller-store format allows it to offer
affordable prices in a shopper-friendly, clean, and convenient
retail environment. The Company also provides extensive free
science-based Nutrition Education programs to help customers make
informed health and nutrition choices.
The Company has 167 stores in 21 states.
Visit www.naturalgrocers.com for more information and store
locations.
[i] Excludes gift cards.
ABOUT JACK AND JILL OF AMERICA FOUNDATION
Incorporated
as a public charity in 1968, Jack and Jill of America Foundation,
Inc. is the oldest African American-led philanthropic nonprofit
organization in the United States
dedicated to supporting underserved communities. As the
philanthropic arm of Jack and Jill of America, Incorporated, the
foundation's focus is to address issues affecting African American
children and families by investing in programs that provide quality
education, healthcare, and a safe environment. Jack and Jill of
America Foundation's mission is to create a strong foundation for
children's long-term growth with the purpose of transforming
African American communities, one child at a time. To learn more,
please visit www.jackandjillfoundation.org or Facebook, YouTube,
Instagram, LinkedIn: Jack and Jill Foundation.
ABOUT JACK AND JILL OF AMERICA, INCORPORATED
Jack and
Jill of America, Inc. was founded in 1938 to nurture future African
American leaders by stimulating the growth and development of
children through educational, cultural, civic, recreational, health
and social programs inspired by mothers. Through its 262 chapters
organized in seven regions across the United States, Jack and
Jill is considered the largest African American family organization
in the nation representing 70,000 family members which includes,
mother members, fathers, and children ages two through 19. For more
information about Jack and Jill of America, Inc. please visit
jackandjillinc.org or @jackandjillinc on Facebook, Instagram,
X, TikTok, or LinkedIn: Jack and Jill of America, Inc.
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SOURCE Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage, Inc.