Big Y News - Big Y® World Class Market™

SPRINGFIELD, MA (October 1, 2009) - For Big Y store director, Leonor Salvador, breast cancer was something that happened to someone else, not her. She was feeling fine and admittedly not visiting her doctor regularly. Then she found a lump in her breast but still she ignored it under the assumption that it was probably nothing. After all, she thought, there was no history of breast cancer in her family. Finally, after seeing stories in the media and elsewhere about women with breast cancer, she sought medical attention.

Her mammogram revealed a 5cm lump in her breast and after several tests, she underwent a mastectomy last December. Her recovery is proceeding well and she is back managing the South Hadley World Class Market on Willimansett St. She admits to being like a reformed smoker as she continually encourages both her employees and customers to get checked. She has also encouraged her own 22 year old daughter to keep up with her own medical check ups so as to detect any potential problems early rather than waiting as she did.

In her words, she said, “it’s all about courage and having both humor and a positive attitude that gets you through each day.”

This year, more than ever, Leonor is enthusiastic to embrace Big Y’s pink initiative called Partners of Hope this October to promote breast cancer health education, screening and treatment. In honor of Breast Cancer awareness month, Big Y has joined forces for the third year in a row with the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation in Massachusetts and Connecticut.

There are many initiatives throughout the store involving just about every department including their pharmacies, Naturewell beef, Smart Chicken, as well as many items from Proctor and Gamble. For every floral product, fruit or vegetable purchased for the entire month, Big Y will donate proceeds to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Additionally, for every Big Y brand product purchased including Top Care, Full Circle Organics, World Classics Trading Company, Paws Premium, Academix, Electrix, Easyclix, and Domestix, they will donate another 5 cents between October 15 and October 21, 2009. Many other items with pink packaging will be available as well as Big Y’s pink reusable, earth-friendly shopping bags. Of course, every store will be promoting Partners of Hope pink ribbons for $1 as a way of generating additional proceeds for this worthwhile endeavor.

Big Y’s registered dietician, Carrie Taylor, will devote a portion of her October newsletter to breast cancer information. Store employees will also show their support by wearing pink on selected weekends. Internally, the company’s Wellness Team will be hosting many programs to both promote awareness and to save lives through early detection and care. And, Big Y’s free monthly magazine has published a special breast cancer issue highlighting not only facts about breast cancer but also recipes to promote eating for good health and the local efforts of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure affiliates in Massachusetts and Connecticut.

Last year’s efforts raised $160,000. This year’s initiatives promise to top that amount.

According to Big Y CEO, Donald D’Amour, “ Unfortunately, breast cancer affects thousands of women each year. We hope that through Big Y’s Partners of Hope campaign, we can enhance the breast health needs of our community in conjunction with Susan G. Komen for the Cure towards effective prevention, detection and treatment.”

Headquartered in Springfield, MA, Big Y is one of the largest independently owned supermarket chains in New England. Proud to be family owned and operated, they currently operate 57 stores throughout Connecticut and Massachusetts with over 9,100 employees. Founded in 1936 by brothers Paul and Gerald D’Amour, the store was named after an intersection in Chicopee, Massachusetts where two roads converge to form a “Y”.