This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Smith's Food & Drug Stores has contributed $1 million to schools in the grocery chain's multi-state operating area, with Utah schools receiving more than $611,000.
Since 2000, Smith's has gifted a total of $15.4 million to schools, kindergarten through high school, throughout the West.
"Our annual donation of $1 million to local schools demonstrates Smith's commitment to education and our support for local communities' schools, where today's students become tomorrow's educated workforce," said Mark Tuffin, president of Smith's Food & Drug.
To enroll in Earn & Learn, school administrators must complete an online application at http://www.smithsfoodanddrug.com. Smith's customers wishing to support the Earn & Learn program link their rewards card to the K-12 school of their choice, by logging on to their Smith's account or presenting a letter from the school with an Earn & Learn barcode to a store checker.
Each time the rewards card is used for a purchase at Smith's, the school earns money. Enrollment in the program must occur at the beginning of each school year to be eligible and must be completed by Sept. 30.
Eligible schools must be a qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit, state-accredited, K-12 school located within Smith's operating areas in Utah, New Mexico, Northern Nevada, Arizona, Wyoming, Idaho and Montana.
Top Utah schools benefiting from the program include: Trailside Elementary in Park City $27,764; Knowlton Elementary in Farmington $18,615.90; Hunter High Girls Softball $8,965; Wasatch High School in Heber $8,186; and Oquirrh Mountain Charter in Kaysville $6,900.
Smith's, a division of the Kroger Co., one of the nation's largest grocery retailers, operates 133 stores in seven western states. Smith's charitable giving, in partnership with 15,600 associates, customers and suppliers, totaled $9.5 million in cash and food products to local organizations last year.
For more information about the Earn & Learn program, call 1-800-444-8081 ext 1672.