Contacts: Nicholas R. Bandoch – Communications Director (414) 716-5500 nick.bandoch@sendiks.com
Katie Hall (224) 234-3321 khall@buzzmonkeyspr.com
Annual Stars & Stripes Honor Flight takes off Oct. 15 with special pair on board
$222,000 raised at Sendik’s to recognize local war veterans
Milwaukee, Wis. – After a three-month fundraising campaign completed by locally owned Sendik’s Food Markets for Stars
& Stripes Honor Flight, which raised $220,000, local veterans will have the opportunity to visit memorials in Washington D.C. when the first flight takes off October 15.
The money was raised through customer contributions made from May through July. It is enough to fund two trips and provide 160 veterans the opportunity to visit Washington D.C. on a one-day, all-expenses paid trip to see the memorials and experience a full day of honor and thanks.
“The generosity of our guests is inspiring and truly amazing,” said family co-owner Margaret Harris. “Because of their kindness, 160 of our heroes will experience an unforgettable day. We’re humbled and honored to support this cause and recognize those that have given so much for our country.”
Local World War II veteran and long-time Sendik’s shopper Frank Cosentino will be aboard the first flight with his Honor Flight guardian Jennifer Gozdowiak, a Sendik’s Germantown cashier who has built a special bond with Cosentino over the past two years during his weekly Sunday grocery trips. After learning he was a veteran who wouldn’t be able to make the trip on his own, Gozdowiak convinced him to go and did everything she could to make his Honor Flight a reality. Frank has been visiting Sendik’s since it opened its Whitefish Bay store in 1949.
“It’s my honor to do this with him,” said Gozdowiak. “There are a lot of World War II veterans that don’t get to make this trip, so this is something that’s important for him to take the opportunity to experience.”
The two flights will take place on October 15 and November 5, 2016 and be named after Sendik’s in recognition of the gift. These flights will mark the culmination of a charitable giving campaign, which ran May 1 to July 31. Guests generously supported a variety of causes:
· Sendik’s Real Food Magazine – All proceeds from the summer issue went to the campaign
· Round Up Your Total – Guest rounded up their totals to the nearest dollar, with the difference supporting the campaign
· American Flags – All proceeds from $1 American Flags went directly the campaign
· Support Honor Flight – A portion of proceeds from select products went to the campaign
As part of its promise to support local organizations, the family owned company has raised a total of $1.6 million for local charities over the last five years. The Stars & Stripes Honor Flight fundraiser is its most successful campaign to date, and the largest single donation ever received by the charity. A list of some of the company’s other charitable efforts can be found here.
