MELROSE PARK, Ill, June 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Helping Illinois students and
their fathers create memories in sunny summer skies, the leading Chicagoland
food and drug retailer will distribute as many as 43-thousand kites during the
month of June.
Continuing its support to the communities it serves, Jewel-Osco is
saluting students for their participation in the Illinois Father of the Year
essay contest by making the free kites available beginning June 11, in time
for Father's Day fun on June 21.
Jewel-Osco chief executive officer, Greg Josefowicz, said the Melrose Park
retailer is proud to be a part of the essay contest sponsored by the Illinois
Fatherhood initiative, the country's first state-wide non-profit fathers
organization to promote responsible fathering.
"Everyone who participated in this contest is to be commended for their
thoughtful, heartfelt essays," Josefowicz said. "We hope an adventurous day
of kite flying will provide students with special memories for their next
Father's Day essay."
Josefowicz said Jewel-Osco will continue to support families by working
with the Illinois Fathers' initiative, and assisting the organization in their
mission to help men become better fathers and father figures.
Almost 43-thousand students throughout Illinois submitted creative essays
on the subject of "what my father -- or father figure -- means to me," and
selected essays are scheduled for publication in a booklet entitled "The Faces
of Fatherhood."
The booklets will be sold at selected Jewel-Osco stores in Chicagoland.
"US Government statistics reveal that almost 24-million children do not
live in the same house as their father," said David Hirsch, president of
Illinois Fatherhood Initiative. "We applaud Jewel-Osco for its efforts to
encourage participation by donating kites for each child who submits an
essay."
Jewel-Osco operates 184 stores in four states and employs almost 40-
thousand people from the communities it serves. The company is a subsidiary
of American Stores Company (NYSE: ASC), of Salt Lake City, Utah, one of the
nation's largest food and drug retailers operating 1,556 stores in 26 states.
SOURCE Jewel-Osco
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CONTACT:
Karen Ramos, director of public relations for
Jewel-Osco, 708-531-6511
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