Cause Marketing/ Community Programs

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway announced that it will donate $20,000 to "America's Most Natural City" to help maintain its park facilities. In addition, the winning city will be awarded with 25 picnic tables, sectioned off from the 305-foot Douglas Fir table that recently broke the Guinness World Record for the World's Longest Picnic Table, which was built in celebration of Safeway's Open Nature, a new 100% natural line of high-quality foods, Safeway reported.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Kmart announced that Roger Mason, Jr. of the New York Nets and Deion Branch of the New England Patriots will be featured in the company's social campaign for Protege, the company's exclusive footwear and apparel collection.

AUSTIN — Retailer Whole Foods is continuing its foray into the health-and-wellness realm.

Bentonville, Ark. -- Walmart U.S. President and CEO Bill Simon addressed attendees at the American Legion's 93rd National Convention on Wednesday, telling fellow Americans, veterans and Legionnaires that Walmart would create jobs in the U.S. by hiring more than 15,000 people to work in about 100 new and expanded Walmart stores by fiscal year's end.

Target failed to crack a ranking of the top 10 most effective back-to-school ads compiled by Ace Metrix that was dominated by retail competitors and technology companies.

WAYNE, N.J. — Toys"R"Us announced that "Desperate Housewives" star Eva Longoria will be featured on the cover of its 2011 edition of the Toys"R"Us Toy Guide for Differently-Abled Kids. Longoria will be featured alongside Elijah De La Cerda, a 5-year-old boy with Down syndrome from Fresno, Calif., the company announced. Released annually, this complimentary resource is created with guidance from the National Lekotek Center, a nonprofit organization dedicated to making play accessible to children of all abilities.

Seeing as how the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks falls on the final day of the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G, tournament officials faced the delicate challenge of developing a respectful way to observe the event.

What they came up with was the following: 

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill.  — Sears announced that it is inviting Facebook users to support to America's military members by fan voting for the Sears Rebuilding Together affiliate program that they believe is the most deserving. 

Voting will take place through Sept. 23, and based on total vote tallies, Sears and Rebuilding Together will award 25 overall grants totaling $250,000 to Rebuilding Together affiliates at platinum, gold, silver and bronze levels.

SAN FRANCISCO — Gap Inc. announced that it has released its fifth social and environmental responsibility report, a comprehensive update on its supply chain operations, environmental programs and community investment efforts from 2009 to 2010.

San Francisco -- Gap Monday today released its fifth Social and Environmental Responsibility report, a comprehensive update on its supply chain operations, environmental programs and community investment efforts from 2009 to 2010.

In the report, the company committed to reducing the absolute greenhouse gas emissions from its operations in the United States by 20% by 2015, when compared with 2008 levels. This follows an earlier 20%  decrease in greenhouse gas emissions from 2003 to 2008.