BLOOMINGTON, IN – September 2 – In a press conference today, Kroger Central Division Public Affairs Manager John Elliott and Advertising Manager Mike Newsom, Hoosier Hills Food Bank (HHFB) Executive Director Julio Alonso and Voice of the Hoosiers Don Fischer announced details of a partnership in support of the Hoosier Hills Food Bank. The news conference was followed by a pep rally.
For each of six regular season home games during the Indiana University (IU) football season, Kroger will donate $100 to HHFB for each opposing team quarterback sack. For each of 17 regular season home games during the IU basketball season, Kroger will donate $100 to HHFB for each three-point shot made by a Hoosier player.
Kroger and IU Sports Properties will collaborate on additional activities in support of the food bank during both the football and basketball seasons. This community activity is part of a larger partnership between Kroger and IU Sports Properties, which is a property of Learfield Sports and the exclusive athletics marketing partner for IU.
According to Mr. Moeder, “Indiana University is an exceptional citizen in the Bloomington community. Kroger has been supporting hunger relief efforts for our entire 126 year history. It is especially rewarding for Kroger to team up with a partner that cares as much as we do about feeding the hungry in this community. Hoosier Hills Food Bank and our other food bank partners across the region do an exceptional job of helping families who are hungry. In the current economy their work is more important than ever and we are pleased to work with IU Athletics to provide this much-needed extra support. I also am very proud of the more than 500 Kroger associates in Bloomington who support many causes throughout the year, including several events to benefit Hoosier Hills. Our four Kroger managers in Bloomington work as an effective team. Their leadership role includes engaging and supporting the Bloomington and IU communities.”
“We’re thrilled about this new partnership,” said IU Director of Athletics Fred Glass. “We’re pleased to have Kroger backing the Hoosiers in what is clearly an inventive and smart initiative that directly benefits an exceptional community organization we all know and love. IU Sports Properties did a great job in bringing us together with Kroger in a way that ensures a win for all involved. This is a great way to kick off the 2009 season. We certainly look forward to getting this under way and seeing the rewards for Hoosier Hills Food Bank at the end of both the football and basketball seasons.”
Mr. Alonso added, “The Hoosier Hills Food Bank is so grateful to both Kroger and Indiana University. Kroger has been our largest corporate donor for many years and have increased their support with even more perishable donations this year. IU not only supports several food drives during the year, IU faculty, administrators and students have become a critical part of our volunteer base. We are not surprised to see these two great community citizens come together to help us even more. The value this brings to the food bank is not limited just to the cash donated by Kroger, but the opportunities created for others in the community to donate at IU sporting events and in Kroger stores and substantial promotional value, raising awareness of the food bank and its critical mission in feeding hungry Hoosier families.”
BACKGROUND:
The Kroger Central Division has 152 food stores, 124 pharmacies and 54 fuel centers operating under five banners; Kroger, Scott’s, Owen’s, Hilander and Pay Less, with locations primarily in Indiana and Illinois, in addition to five stores in Missouri, one in Michigan and one in Ohio. Kroger Central Division is dedicated to supporting every local community it serves, contributing more than $10 million in 2008 to local organizations, primarily focusing on hunger relief, K-12 education, health causes and diversity. At Kroger we value: honesty, respect, inclusion, diversity, safety and integrity.
Indiana University Sports Properties, responsible for the Kroger-Hoosier partnership, is one of many properties in the Learfield Sports’ family. In addition to Indiana, the company manages the multimedia rights for more than 50 collegiate institutions and associations including the Big Ten, and five other Big Ten member schools individually (Iowa, Minnesota, Penn State, Purdue, Wisconsin). Also, it is the title partner for the Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup, oversees marketing partnerships for the Black Coaches & Administrators (BCA) and provides exclusive sports programming to more than 1,000 radio stations nationwide.
Learfield Sports is an operating unit of Jefferson City, Mo.-based Learfield Communications, Inc., which made its initial foray into the world of sports marketing in 1975 as the radio rights holder for the University of Missouri, a client still today. Additionally, Team Services, LLC, a Learfield Sports company, specializes in venue naming rights, marketing research and sales consultation. To learn more about the company and its complete collegiate portfolio, visit www.learfieldsports.com.
Posted on Thursday, September 3, 2009