Ralphs Grocery Company Launches Charitable Campaign To Benefit Special Olympics

Los Angeles, CA /PRNewswire/ - The 2015 Special Olympics World Games are coming to Los Angeles this summer and Ralphs Grocery Company is pleased to announce that it is supporting the athletes by raising funds to assist Special Olympics.

Ralphs customers and associates can show their support of Special Olympics through the supermarket chain's nonprofit arm, The Ralphs Fund, by donating their spare change in collection canisters located at the checkstands in their neighborhood Ralphs supermarket. The Special Olympics fundraising campaign will run through May 19, 2015.

One hundred percent of customer donations received as part of the fundraising campaign will be directed to Special Olympics.

Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Special Olympics is a global movement that transforms lives through the joy of sport. The 2015 World Games are being held in Los Angeles from July 25 through August 2.

"Ralphs has great respect for the impact Special Olympics has had on countless individuals with intellectual disabilities and their families," said Donna Giordano, Ralphs president. "Ralphs has long been a champion of children and adults with special needs and it is our honor to raise funds for Special Olympics so even more individuals will have the opportunity to experience the transformative power and joy of Special Olympics sports."

In conjunction with its Special Olympics checkstand fundraising program, Ralphs also announced that it is encouraging its customers to enjoy the power of the 2015 Special Olympics World Games by reaching up and volunteering to be a "Fan in the Stands." Ralphs customers can volunteer to cheer at this summer's Special Olympics World Games by registering at www.LA2015.org/ralphs-cheer.

Ralphs Grocery Company was founded in 1873 and currently operates 217 supermarkets from its headquarters in Los Angeles. Last year, Ralphs contributed more than $6 million to support education, hunger relief, women's health and local nonprofit organizations in the communities served by the company's stores. Ralphs is a subsidiary of The Kroger Co., (NYSE: KR), one of the nation's largest food retailers, based in Cincinnati, Ohio. For more about Ralphs, please visit our web site at www.ralphs.com.