Kroger Teams with the USO in "Honoring Our Heroes"

CINCINNATI, May 26, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- To show support for our heroes – service members, their families and veterans – The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) today announced a $1 million donation and a multi-faceted program to engage customers and honor our heroes all summer.

"Kroger is deeply grateful to our military men and women and their families for their selflessness, service and sacrifices," said Jessica Adelman, Kroger's group vice president of corporate affairs. "Whether through hiring returning service members, supporting the USO's programs or sharing a taste of home through special events, Kroger is committed to our troops and their families."

More than two million Americans serve on active duty or in the reserves today, including many Kroger family of stores associates. Kroger's "Honoring Our Heroes" program is designed to show Kroger's deep gratitude to our active duty service members and our nation's 23 million veterans through the company's partnership with the USO.

Kroger's customers and associates have enthusiastically supported the endeavor: Together, Kroger annual campaign has raised more than $14 million since 2010 to support USO programs, which represents the largest cumulative gift to the USO in its 75-year history.

To honor our heroes, Kroger announced several easy ways for customers to participate this Memorial Day season and throughout the summer:

• Help Raise an Additional $1 Million for Our Troops Kroger invites its customers to join forces with them to donate an additional $1 million to the USO by giving through register scan cards and coin boxes at every store or by donating online at HonoringOurHeroes.com. All funds raised from customers will be additional to Kroger's $1 million commitment. Any size gift will help the USO continue its mission to keep service members connected to family, home and country throughout their service to our nation.
• Gift Card Donations Customers may purchase special donation gift cards in $5, $10 and $15 denominations that will be delivered to USO centers around the world. In addition, shoppers can share their spirit with loved ones by purchasing patriotic banner gift cards to give as gifts, maybe to someone in the family who is (or was) a service member or someone in the community who is especially patriotic.
• Meet Our Heroes Kroger has hired more than 32,000 veterans since 2009, and the "Meet Our Heroes" section on Kroger's website highlights some of the many team members who have served in the military. Customers can visit HonoringOurHeroes.com to become inspired by Kroger's own associates' stories of courage, then write a special message of their own to America's heroes. By posting on social media channels using the #HonoringOurHeroes hashtag, the message will automatically show up on the official website. In addition, many of the messages will be broadcast on special digital outdoor billboards.
• A Summer to RememberTreating troops and their families to a dinner together is a token of the company's appreciation for the many family dinners they missed while deployed. Kroger associates look forward to volunteering at three upcoming events:
  • On May 24, they joined the USO to serve lunch and dinner to 1,000 service members at Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson in Anchorage.
  • On June 3, they will join the USO to host a beachside BBQ for 1,000 veterans, active duty soldiers and their families in Virginia Beach as part of Warrior Week.
  • On June 7, they will join the USO to host a rib roast at Ft. Riley, Kansas, for 1,000 military families as they celebrate Victory Week, the anniversary of their base.
• Share a Coke With every click, The Coca-Cola Company will donate a refreshing Coke to the troops, up to 100,000, on Kroger's behalf. Consumers can use the hashtags #HonoringOurHeroes #USO #ShareaCoke to spread the message with their friends and followers.

To find out more about these many programs, visit https://www.honoringourheroes.com/

About the USO  The USO strengthens America's military service members by keeping them connected to family, home and country, throughout their service to the nation. At hundreds of locations worldwide, we are united in our commitment to connect our service members and their families through countless acts of caring, comfort, and support. The USO is a private, non-profit organization, not a government agency. Our programs, services and entertainment tours are made possible by the American people, support of our corporate partners and the dedication of our volunteers and staff. To join us in this important mission, and to learn more about the USO, please visit uso.org.

About Kroger  Every day, the Kroger Family of Companies makes a difference in the lives of eight and a half million customers and 431,000 associates who shop or serve in 2,778 retail food stores under a variety of local banner names in 35 states and the District of Columbia. Kroger and its subsidiaries operate an expanding ClickList offering – a personalized, order online, pick up at the store service – in addition to our 2,231 pharmacies, 784 convenience stores, 323 fine jewelry stores, 1,387 supermarket fuel centers and 38 food production plants in the United States. Kroger is recognized as one of America's most generous companies for its support of more than 100 Feeding America food bank partners, breast cancer research and awareness, the military and their families, and more than 145,000 community organizations including schools. A leader in supplier diversity, Kroger is a proud member of the Billion Dollar Roundtable.

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SOURCE The Kroger Co.