Rite Aid Foundation donates more than $2M to KidCents Charities

In honor of #GivingTuesday on Nov. 27, a global day of giving fueled by the power of social media, The Rite Aid Foundation is awarding a total of $2.2 million to partner charities through its KidCents Thanks For Giving Holiday program. This special program has been created to help the more than 440 KidCents charities across the country advance their efforts to improve the health, safety and well-being.

"The Rite Aid Foundation wanted to recognize and thank our KidCents charities for making a positive impact in their communities and helping to give kids better lives and brighter futures," The Rite Aid Foundation and charitable giving initiatives director Tracy Henderson said. "We couldn't think of a better time to share this exciting news than in the week leading up to #GivingTuesday, a day where helping others, something KidCents charities do all year long, is front and center."

KidCents charities are able to use their Thanks For Giving Holiday program grant to help continue improving the health and wellness of children in their communities. Examples of how these grants will be used include the following:

• Children's Crisis Treatment Center in Philadelphia: This nonprofit agency, which provides mental and behavioral health services to Philadelphia's children and families, will provide over 1,000 children with gifts this season as a part of its holiday toy drive;


• Girls Inc. of Washington County, Hagerstown, Md.: The after-school program, designed to meet the unique needs of girls ages 6-to-18 years old, will participate in several educational field trips that will reinforce learning and provide educational experiences away from their regular environment;


•  Little Flower Children and Family Services of New York in Brooklyn, N.Y.: The nonprofit charity, which serves children, families and individuals with developmental disabilities across New York City and Long Island, will provide nutrition workshops, gym memberships and dental care to foster children as a part of its wellness program;


•  Richstone Family Center in Hawthorne, Calif.: This nonprofit social services agency will host a "Breakfast with Santa" event for children and families affected by child abuse and trauma, allowing attendees to enjoy a healthy breakfast, holiday games and a morning of family wellness activities; and


•  Wayfinder Family Services in Los Angeles: The nonprofit organization, which offers vision loss, special needs, foster and adoption, and mental health services, will allow 10 children who are blind, visually-impaired or multi-disabled to attend Camp Bloomfield and participate in challenging recreational and social activities.

Through KidCents, members of Rite Aid's loyalty program, wellness+ rewards, can round up their in-store or online purchases to the nearest dollar and give their change to one of more than 440 nonprofit organizations focused on improving the health and well-being of children.