Press Release
Hannaford donates $500,000 to support racial justice and equity, diversity initiatives across Northeast
Feb. 17, 2021
Description
Donation includes support of NAACP, supplier diversity and university scholarships
Details:
Hannaford donates $500,000 to support racial justice and equity, diversity initiatives across Northeast
Donation includes support of NAACP, supplier diversity and university scholarships
Scarborough, Maine -- Hannaford Supermarkets today announced $500,000 in donations to support racial equity and justice initiatives, economic empowerment efforts, and educational opportunity scholarships focused on diversity, equity and inclusion across its five-state region. These gifts are in addition to existing Hannaford donations to organizations working in support of those goals.
“At Hannaford, we understand that we have a responsibility for helping build strong and healthy communities, where our customers, our associates and our families can thrive. No community can be healthy so long as racial injustice and inequity persist,” said Mike Vail, Hannaford President. “Today, we are investing in efforts to help empower individuals who too often face unfair disadvantages. In the days and years ahead, we are committed to working across our region, within our business and through collaboration with others to create meaningful and sustained change, so that our entire community can succeed together.”
The $500,000 in donations include:
- $200,000 to the NAACP state and regional conferences for New England ($150,000) and the State of New York ($50,000) to support their work in creating economic opportunity, combating educational inequality, fighting for racial justice, and strengthening the communities Hannaford serves in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont.
- $200,000 to fund scholarships at the University of Southern Maine ($100,000) and University at Albany ($100,000) to help support diversity and equity in educational opportunity.
- $65,000 to help minority-owned businesses across Hannaford’s operating region succeed, with donations to the Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council ($50,000) and similar efforts in New York ($15,000).
- $35,000 to support previously announced community empowerment efforts through the Racial Equality fund sponsored by Greater Portland United Way ($25,000) and the Racial Justice Fund initiated by the Maine Justice Foundation ($10,000).
The NAACP New England Area Conference will use the $150,000 donation to support its work in creating economic opportunity, combating educational inequality, fighting for racial justice and strengthening the communities Hannaford serves in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont.
“Hannaford Supermarkets has continued to reflect its genuine commitment to responsibly serving its market. The NAACP, New England Area Conference, is very excited to join Hannaford’s community of partners,” said NEAC President Juan Cofield. “Hannaford appropriately sees social justice and service to the entire marketplace as part of its corporate commitment. So, the missions of our two organizations are in alignment; we share common goals. Here, we have two organizations with exceptional reputations working together for their common interests.”
The New York State NAACP will use the $50,000 donation to support its work in creating economic opportunity, combating educational inequality, fighting for racial justice and strengthening the communities Hannaford serves in New York.
“Hannaford sees social justice and service to the community within their marketplaces as a part of its corporate commitment,” said Hazel Dukes, president of the NAACP New York State Conference. “The mission of the two organizations has shared goals. We have two organizations with exceptional reputations working together for educational, economic and health equity. The funds will enhance the work in the community fight for equality and justice.”
The University of Southern Maine (USM) will use the $100,000 donation from Hannaford for its Access to Education Fund, which focuses on creating a diverse student body by helping members of traditionally underrepresented groups, first generation college students, students of diverse background or students coming to Maine from an international location, such as asylum seekers. The donation will fully fund the scholarship for two years and is anticipated to help a total of 24 students access higher education opportunities.
“Hannaford’s gift goes to the heart of our mission at the University of Southern Maine and will help grow the USM Access to Education Fund, which targets support for highly qualified students who are not eligible for federal and state aid. Through the generosity of committed partners like Hannaford, USM is able to provide essential support to students so they can go on to impact their professions, their communities, and the workforce of Maine.” Glenn Cummings, Ed.D., President, University of Southern Maine
The University at Albany will use a portion of the $100,000 donation to create the Hannaford Education Opportunity Program Scholarship, which will help more than 100 students who are at risk of not affording school due to relatively small financial gaps. The remainder of the donation will fund the Hannaford Scholarship for Excellence, which will be awarded to a total of 10 students who demonstrate academic achievement and support the creation of a diverse student body.
“We are grateful to Hannaford Supermarkets for their generous gift,” said University at Albany President Havidán Rodríguez. “As one of the nation’s most diverse public research universities, one of our top priorities is ensuring access to a UAlbany degree to traditionally underrepresented students—and Hannaford’s commitment supports this critical goal.”
The Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council will use the $65,000 in funding to help minority-owned businesses across Hannaford’s operating region succeed.
“This investment by Hannaford and others in New England will allow us to continue to build an even more effective Development Program to make more of New England’s minority businesses stronger,” said Peter Hurst, the President and CEO of Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council. “Minority business development helps reduce the country’s racial wealth gap, and our Minority Business Enterprise Development Program will continue to contribute to the health and growth of our current and future Minority Business Enterprises.”
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About Hannaford Supermarkets
Hannaford Supermarkets, based in Scarborough, Maine, operates 184 stores in the Northeast. Stores are located in Maine, New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. Hannaford employs nearly 30,000 associates. Additional information can be found at Hannaford.com.