The Kroger Co. Foundation, Kroger’s philanthropic arm, shared Wednesday that $1 million in grants have been awarded to organizations empowering and advancing the Hispanic community, families, and entrepreneurism.
The funds were disbursed through the Racial Equity Fund and honored Hispanic Heritage Month which runs through October 15.
"We launched the Racial Equity Fund in 2020 to catalyze innovative approaches that help create stronger communities," said Keith Dailey, Kroger's group VP of corporate affairs and president of The Kroger Co. Foundation, in a statement. "These recent grant recipients reflect a group of dedicated organizations that are committed to creating lasting change in the Hispanic community. We look forward to seeing each organization continue to transform the communities they serve."
Grant recipients in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month include:
• Hispanic Heritage Foundation: a nonprofit that prepares and connects the Latino community in four areas of focus: Education, workforce, social impact/justice, and culture, through leadership. Through funding from Kroger, the organization will activate its Latinos on Fast Track Network via an innovative challenge to address the issue of food insecurity in communities and support local Latino entrepreneurs in starting their own food-related businesses.
• Hispanic Federation: a Latino nonprofit membership organization seeking to empower and advance the Hispanic community, support Hispanic families, and strengthen Latino institutions through work in economic empowerment and job upskilling, education, health, immigration, civic engagement, and the environment. Kroger will help the organization expand its Digital Equity Centers initiative, including digital skills training, sectoral workforce development, and campaign for digital equity.
• United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Educational Fund: a fund that promotes economic equity and well-being through entrepreneurship and equitable access to advancement in the Hispanic community. With Kroger’s support, the organization will strengthen its supplier development programming and launch the USHCC Supplier Avanzando program.
Related: Retailers Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month; Hy-Vee Celebrates Family Meals Month, Hispanic Heritage Month