Rite Aid dedicates $1.3 million to Folds of Honor
CAMP HILL, Pa. — During the month of September, Rite Aid associates nationwide will honor 274 students who have been named recipients of Folds of Honor educational scholarships provided by the Rite Aid Foundation’s KidCents program. The $1.3 million donation to Folds of Honor, a nonprofit organization based in Owasso, Okla., dedicated to providing educational scholarships to children of fallen or disabled veterans, was first announced in May during the nonprofit’s annual Patriot Cup Invitational.
Rite Aid CEO of stores and president of Rite Aid Corporation Ken Martindale, who also serves as president of the Rite Aid Foundation, and Folds of Honor CEO Major Dan Rooney, kicked off the month of recognition by presenting 18 students from the greater Virginia Beach area with scholarships totaling $90,000 on Wednesday.
“There’s no better place for us to begin our month-long recognition of the KidCents scholarships recipients than Virginia Beach, a community that holds the men and women who serve our country, and their families, in the highest regard,” Martindale said. “I know I speak for Rite Aid associates everywhere when I say that to have an opportunity to meet the young scholars and their families, and to hear their stories and listen to them talk about their educational aspirations, is truly an honor. The Rite Aid Foundation is proud to be able to support these students and we look forward to celebrating their continued successes through our partnership with Folds of Honor.”
“Today is a proud moment for the Folds of Honor organization and those we serve,” Rooney said. “Folds of Honor stands proudly with the Rite Aid Foundation in recognizing the KidCents scholars across Virginia Beach and the surrounding area as well as the more the 250 students nationwide receiving scholarships. We are honored to be collaborating with The Rite Aid Foundation and are so appreciative of their generous donation, which is helping to fulfill the educational dreams of our American military families.”
Folds of Honor was founded in 2007 by Major Dan Rooney, an F-16 fighter pilot in the Oklahoma Air National Guard who served three tours of duty in Iraq. Since its inception, Folds of Honor has raised more than $70 million and awarded nearly 8,000 scholarships to the family members of fallen or disabled veterans.
KidCents was developed by The Rite Aid Foundation to provide Rite Aid customers an opportunity to do even more to help the kids in the communities Rite Aid serves. Through KidCents, members of Rite Aid’s wellness+ with Plenti program can round up their in-store or online purchases to the nearest dollar and give their change to one of more than 360 nonprofit organizations focused on improving the health and wellbeing of children.
In addition to the donation, Folds of Honor is also able to receive round-up donations from Rite Aid customers through the KidCents program.
Since its inception in 2001, the Rite Aid Foundation has awarded nearly $21 million to non-profit organizations. Additionally, Rite Aid, through the efforts of its customers, supplier partners and associates, has also raised more than $75 million for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals across the country since 1994.