Hy-Vee to sponsor fundraising events to help children with cancer and their families
WEST DES MOINES, Iowa, 2016-Apr-28 — /EPR Retail News/ — Today, Hy-Vee, Inc. announced it is once again partnering with the Pinky Swear Foundation, a national charitable organization that supports children with cancer and their families, to host six kids triathlon fundraising events across the Midwest this summer. For the second year in a row, this unique partnership will bring Hy-Vee Pinky Swear Kids Triathlons to Omaha, Des Moines, Kansas City, Minneapolis and the Quad Cities.
Instead of focusing on competition, children at all fitness levels are encouraged to participate in the swim, bike and run events to help raise money for kids with cancer and their families. In many cases, the money raised provides basic needs, such as mortgage and rent, transportation, utilities, gas cards and food, to impacted families. According to the Pinky Swear Foundation, a child is diagnosed with cancer every 45 minutes in the United States and 1 out of 11 families given that news will file for bankruptcy.
“We are proud to once again partner with the Pinky Swear Foundation to highlight our commitment to health and wellness while also giving back to our communities,” said Ryan Grant, director of sports marketing for Hy-Vee. “The dedication that Hy-Vee Pinky Swear Kids Triathlon participants put into their fundraising and athletic efforts is truly inspiring.”
In 2015, more than 1,900 athletes participated in five events, raising more than $330,000 to help 110 families in need. This year, a sixth event has been added to accommodate increased participation in the Minneapolis area.
“We’re excited to continue our partnership with Hy-Vee to bring fun and accessible triathlons to cities in Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri and Minnesota,” said Brian Nelson, executive director of the Pinky Swear Foundation. “I am proud of the work we’ve done so far and will be doing in engaging kids in these communities to help other kids. We look forward to working with Hy-Vee to serve hundreds of additional children with cancer and their families.”
2016 Event Schedule:
July 9 — University of Nebraska – Omaha, Omaha, NE
July 23 — Raccoon River Park, Des Moines, IA
July 31 — Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO
Aug. 6 — Lake Nokomis, Minneapolis, MN
Aug. 13 — Bettendorf YMCA, Bettendorf, IA
Aug. 20 — Lake Ann, Chanhassen, MN
Register now to participate in one of the Hy-Vee Pinky Swear Kids Triathlons atwww.pinkyswear.org/hy-vee.
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Hy-Vee, Inc. is an employee-owned corporation operating 240 retail stores across eight Midwestern states with sales of $9.3 billion annually. Hy-Vee ranks among the top 25 supermarket chains and the top 50 private companies in the United States. Supermarket News, the authoritative voice of the food industry, has honored the company with a Whole Health Enterprise Award for its leadership in providing services and programs that promote a healthy lifestyle. For more information, visit www.hy-vee.com.
The Pinky Swear Foundation was founded on a pinky swear promise as a dying wish between a nine-year old boy and his father to help children with cancer and their families by providing immediate basic needs support and unique family programs. That pinky swear, the most solemn of oaths between two people, lives on today in the Pinky Swear Foundation. The Pinky Swear Foundation is passionately committed to helping children with cancer and their families by being fanatically responsive to the immediate crisis facing families with a childhood cancer diagnosis. Pinky Swear Foundation activities include the world’s largest kids fundraising triathlon series, National Pinky Swear Day, and other community engagement opportunities. Visit us at PinkySwear.org or follow us at @PinkySwearFndtn.