After Breast Cancer Diagnosis (ABCD), a breast cancer patient support organization, announced that a Sendik’s Food Markets raised $113,500 for the group in 2016 — the grocery chain’s largest annual gift to ABCD to date — bringing its total donations to about $500,000 over the last 10 years.
Sendik’s, founded by the Balisteri family in 1926, and still family-owned, serves the greater Milwaukee community. Oer the last decade, Sendik’s Food Markets has sponsored fundraising campaigns to benefit its community, involving its employees and customers, and encouraging corporate giving.
“We are honored to support ABCD as a charity partner,” Margaret Harris, Sendik’s co-owner, said in a news release. “With the help of our amazing Sendik’s associates and our extremely generous customers, we have been able to give over half a million dollars to a homegrown Wisconsin charity that is committed to helping the families in our community during their breast cancer journey.”
This year, the Sendik’s team charitable campaign featured the Market’s Real Food Magazine, available from February through April for sale at $1.99, with all proceedings going to ABCD. The campaign was boosted each month through special incentives: in February, shoppers who donated $1 at the register were thanked small chocolate hearts; in March, customers were asked to round up their shopping total, with all the difference going to ABCD; and in April, $1 of every purchase of selected ice creams was donated to ABCD, and special ABCD key chains were available for sale.
ABCD, founded in 1999 by Emmy award-winning journalist Melodie Wilson Oldenburg, is a Milwaukee-based service providing breast cancer patients, and their families and friends with personalized, one-to-one support at no cost. Money received as donations are directed to its support programs, including a dedicated Helpline, and Mentor Match and Mentor Survivorship services.
“Sendik’s creativity and commitment to supporting ABCD’s mission positively impacts breast cancer patients at times when they need it most. They are truly a corporate and community role model for companies nationwide,” Ginny Finn, ABCD’s executive director, said in a press release.