SENIORBOWL.com :: News Room

MOBILE, Ala. (October 18, 2006) -- Food World and Senior Bowl officials announced on Thursday the continuation of their highly successful charitable partnership that has donated over $4 million to Gulf Coast charities.

The Food World Senior Bowl Charitable Partnership’s mission is to raise funds for charities whose services, activities or programs benefit youth and youth-related activities and programs along the Gulf Coast.

In addition to announcing the continuation of the partnership, officials also unveiled a newly-created Charitable Partnership logo, which will be displayed at all Senior Bowl events, as well as on various printed materials and apparel.

Left to right: Mobile Arts and Sports Association Chairman Vic Lott, American Red Cross Alabama Gulf Coast Chapter chairperson Virginia Liles, Bruno's Vice President Scott North and Alabama Governor Bob Riley pose with a check which represents the one-million dollar donation made by the Food World-Senior Bowl Charitable Partnership and the BI-LO/Bruno's Corporation to the Red Cross for Hurricane Katrina relief.

“We are very pleased that the Food World – Senior Bowl Charitable Partnership will continue to support youth activities and services along the Gulf Coast,” said Senior Bowl president Steve Hale. “It is also a pleasure to be associated with Food World, a company that feels so strongly about giving back to the communities in which they do business.”

In 2005-2006, the Food World-Senior Bowl Charitable Partnership raised a one-year record of $1.2 million for area charities, a total that included a $1 million donation made in October of 2005 to the American Red Cross for hurricane relief in southwest Alabama and the Gulf Coast.

Scott North, Food World’s regional vice president for the supermarkets in Alabama and Florida, also praised the event for its continuing grass roots philanthropy. “Our Food World customers frequently mention the importance of supporting children’s charities and local organizations. Because so many of our shoppers are moms, they understand how much it means to lend a helping hand.”

Last May, the Partnership distributed another $208,000 to 18 different Gulf Coast charities including the USA Children’s and Women’s Hospital, Mercy Medical in Daphne, Thomas Hospital in Fairhope, Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital in Pensacola, Mobile YMCA, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Pre-School for the Sensory Impaired, Mobile Association for Retarded Citizens, National Youth Sports Program, Mobile Area Swim Association, Drug Education Council, Child Advocacy Center, Mobile Association for the Blind, Special Olympics and three Mobile arts organizations – the Mobile Symphony, Opera and Ballet.

Left to right: Lindsey Hutchisson of the Mobile Association for Retarded Citizens, Senior Bowl Distribution Committee member Randy Delchamps, Debra Garlo of the Special Olympics, Pay Guyton of the Child Advocacy Center, the Mobile Association for the Blind's Jim Bullock, Virginia Guy of the Drug Education Council and Food World District Manager David Powell pose with a check representing the $208,000 which was donated to 18 different charities along the Gulf Coast from proceeds generated by the 18th annual Food World Senior Bowl Charity Run held last November. To date, over $3 million has been donated to area charities by the event.

The total included several major donations such as a $50,000 gift to the USA Children’s and Women’s Hospital as part of a five-year, $250,000 pledge made by the Partnership to help fund the renovation of the hospital’s lobby.

Funds that were donated to Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital, which brought the total given to the hospital by the Partnership since 2002 to $140,000, were used to purchase a new neo-natal intensive care ambulance which is specially equipped for transport and treatment of critically ill and injured infants and children.

Donations made to Thomas Hospital are being used for a new childhood obesity awareness and prevention program in Baldwin County, while the monies donated to Mercy Medical have been designated for its Guardian Angel Program, the fundraising program supporting the costs of the extensive pediatric home care services provided by Mercy Medical.

Food World will also continue as title sponsor of the Food World Senior Bowl Charity Run, set for November 4 in downtown Mobile, and several other special events held during the year including the Food World Senior Bowl Sailing Regatta, the Food World Fan Frenzy held the Friday afternoon prior to the Senior Bowl football game, and the Food World Tailgate Party at Ladd-Peebles Stadium on game day.

Proceeds raised from all of those events will go towards the Charitable Partnership.

Food World operates 34 supermarkets in Alabama and the Florida panhandle. Their parent company, BI-LO/Bruno’s, is headquartered in Mauldin, SC and operates over 300 supermarkets in the Carolinas, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama and Florida. The company employs over 23,000 people. Each year BI-LO/Bruno’s contributes millions of dollars to children’s charities, education and the elimination of hunger.