Big Y News - Big Y® World Class Market™

SPRINGFIELD, MA (October 13, 2009) - For nearly 2000 local schools, Big Y World Class Markets has donated $275,482 in equipment that they would otherwise not be able to afford. With local city and town budgets stretched to the max, programs such as Big Y’s Education Express are a welcome resource for many. According to Cyndi Jensen, Coordinator/Science Teacher, Gateway Regional High School in Huntington, MA, “This is such a great program. During times like these when we have almost nothing for a budget, Big Y is really helping. Thank you.” Her sentiments have been echoed across Massachusetts and Connecticut as schools ramp up their participation in this program so that they can add tools and equipment that they would otherwise be passing up.

Local schools within Big Y’s two state marketing area have already received 25, 000 pencils, 1000 playground balls, 208 electric pencil sharpeners, 175 kindermats, 154 stopwatches, 94 books, 60 DVD/VCRs, 59 digital cameras, 40 classroom projectors, 14 printers, 6 computers and 6 TVs. Top earning schools to date range from high schools in Ludlow, Westfield and Shelburne Falls, MA to those in Monroe and New Milford, CT. (Listing is attached.)

In Ellington, CT, Gail Scalley, Coordinator for Ellington High School remarked, “we thank you for all of the educational materials we have received. The educational material has aided many students and staff members.”

Big Y’s Education Express is an innovative program reflecting Big Y’s corporate commitment to education. According to Michele D’Amour, M.Ed., Educational Partnership Administrator for Big Y, “ Big Y’s commitment to education in the communities we serve with programs like Education Express along with our Homework Helpline, Merit Scholarships, Educating Kids Magazines, Springfield Work Scholarship Connection and support of public TV, is our way of contributing to the development of a world class workforce for the future.” When Big Y customers purchase featured money-saving products with their Express Savings Club card after having signed up the school of their choice, they automatically earn valuable merchandise points for that school. Schools then redeem those points for free equipment and supplies such as those listed above. This last round of the Education Express program began in October of last year and is scheduled to run until January of 2010.

Since it began in 1993, Big Y has awarded more than $11.5 million dollars worth of free teaching materials and classroom equipment to area schools. This is the 5th time the program has been offered. “We love this program and are grateful for the help Big Y has given to schools over the years, said Kathy Deschaine, Coordinator/Administrative Assistant & Development for the Pioneer Valley Christian School in Springfield.

Customers can sign up for their school at any time at any register at any Big Y or they can still enroll on line at www.bigy.com. The customer need not shop in the town in which their school is chosen. In fact, often a grandparent will sign up for their grandchild’s school located in an entirely different area or state from where they reside.

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”.