WASHINGTON, May 14, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --
Supporting members of the U.S. military, veterans and their
families is an important part of the mission of the American Red
Cross, and MGM Resorts International,
University of Phoenix®, and now Pantry/Kangaroo
Express, help that important effort through the Red Cross Service
to the Armed Forces (SAF) Giving Program.
This program was started in May
2012, coinciding with Armed Forces
Day May 18, when America
honors and recognizes the critical contributions of our nation's
service members. Members of the SAF Giving Program are corporations
and foundations that make an annual commitment to support Red Cross
Service to the Armed Forces.
"We are incredibly thankful to the University of Phoenix and MGM Resorts for their
continued contributions to the SAF Giving Program and welcome
Kangaroo Express in its commitment to supporting our work with the
military community," said Sherri
Brown, senior vice president of Red Cross Service to the
Armed Forces. "The Red Cross helps thousands of service members,
veterans and their families each year and the generous support of
these organizations helps to ensure the Red Cross will be there for
our military for years to come."
Kangaroo Express is the latest organization to join the Red
Cross' military support mission through the Service to the Armed
Forces (SAF) Giving Program. This summer, customers shopping
at Kangaroo Express will have the opportunity to give back through
a customer donation program helping to provide continued Red Cross
services to America's military families. Kangaroo Express is the
leading independently operated convenience store chain in
southeastern United States,
operated by The Pantry, Inc.
"Considering more than one-third of our employees have a direct
connection to the military, supporting our troops is supporting our
family," said Gordon Schmidt, senior
vice president of Operations, Kangaroo Express. "This summer, our
guests and associates will rally together for the fourth annual
Kangaroo Express Salute Our Troops campaign to raise funds for
dedicated military support organizations like the American Red
Cross' Service to the Armed Forces. It is through these
organizations that we are able to help support our military
families when they need it most."
MGM Resorts is supporting the "Boots to Business" program,
which, in partnership with the Red Cross, provides pre-employment
support services and management training to prepare veterans for
managerial positions with MGM Resorts. "Boots to Business" also
provides deployment support for current MGM employees who are
called to duty, as well as ongoing assistance in the form of
mentoring and networking.
"As a longstanding supporter of our nation's military personnel,
our company is proud to partner with the American Red Cross as a
member of the Service to the Armed Forces Giving Program," said
Michelle DiTondo, senior vice
president of Human Resources for MGM Resorts International.
"Participation in this program is one of the ways we show
appreciation to our veterans and their families for their service
and many sacrifices. You can never tell veterans 'Thank you'
enough, but through this program and others, we certainly try."
University of Phoenix has extended
their commitment to supporting SAF programs and services, along
with the entire Red Cross mission. One way the University is
working with the Red Cross is through participating in the Red
Cross Holiday Mail for Heroes, an annual opportunity for the
University's students, alumni, faculty and staff to send cards of
thanks to military members during the holidays.
"University of Phoenix is excited to
continue our partnership with the American Red Cross through the
Service to the Armed Forces Giving Program," said University of Phoenix Military Relations Vice
Present and retired Army Colonel Garland
Williams. "This program allows the University to support
various Red Cross programs throughout the year to provide active
duty service members and military families worldwide access to
valuable resources in times of need."
With help from these key partners, the Red Cross is connecting
military families with resources in their communities every day.
Thanks to University of Phoenix,
Kangaroo Express and MGM Resorts International, the Red Cross
ensures that military members, veterans and their families get the
support they need at every stage of military life.
About University of Phoenix
University of Phoenix is constantly
innovating to help working adults move efficiently from education
to careers in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules,
relevant and engaging courses, and interactive learning can help
students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations
while balancing their busy lives. As a subsidiary of Apollo
Education Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: APOL), University of Phoenix serves a diverse student
population, offering associate, bachelor's, master's and doctoral
degree programs from campuses and learning centers across the U.S.
as well as online throughout the world. For more information, visit
www.phoenix.edu.
About MGM Resorts International
MGM Resorts
International (NYSE: MGM) is one of the world's leading global
hospitality companies, operating destination resort brands
including Bellagio, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay and The Mirage. The
Company also owns 51% of MGM China Holdings Limited, which owns the
MGM Macau resort and casino and is in the process of developing a
gaming resort in Cotai, and 50% of CityCenter in Las Vegas, which features ARIA resort and
casino. For more information about MGM Resorts International,
visit the Company's website at
www.mgmresorts.com.
Kangaroo Express
The Pantry's Kangaroo
Express® convenience stores meet the daily food and fuel
shopping needs of guests. As of May 1, 2014, the Company
operated 1,534 stores in thirteen states under select banners,
including its primary operating banner Kangaroo Express. The
Pantry is one of the nation's largest convenience store chains and
the leading independently operated chain in the southeastern
United States. The Pantry is
headquartered in Cary, N.C. For
more information, visit www.thepantry.com.
Kangaroo Express offers hot and cold beverages, snacks, fresh
foods, gasoline and a wide assortment of merchandise and services
for guests' on-the-go lifestyles. It is home to more than 220
foodservice restaurants, including Dairy Queen, Little Caesars and
Subway. Kangaroo Express associates are committed to providing
store guests with the fastest, friendliest and cleanest shopping
experience.
With more than half of its stores located within 25 miles of
a military installation, Kangaroo Express has supported the
military and their families for many years, including raising
millions of dollars each year for military support organizations as
part of its summer-long Salute Our Troops®
fundraising campaign. For more information, visit
www.kangarooexpress.com or visit us on
Twitter, Facebook or
Instagram.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional
support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the
nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides
international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and
their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that
depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to
perform its mission. For more information, please visit
redcross.org or visit us on Twitter at
@RedCross.
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SOURCE American Red Cross