Throughout February and March, IGA stores across the country will be fundraising for the McGrath Foundation, donating money from the sale of hundreds of Community Chest labelled products to help place McGrath Breast Care Nurses in communities across Australia.
The Independent Grocers of Australia (IGA) Community Chest raises funds to support local communities, charities and other worthwhile causes through in-store purchases. The initiative sees approximately 1,400 IGA store owners support their local communities through the sale of specially marked IGA and IGA Signature brand merchandise – with stores donating a percentage from these lines to support charities and organisations of their choice.
A proud supporter of the McGrath Foundation since 2009, IGA has raised over $500,000 to date and funds two McGrath Breast Care Nurses in Myrtleford, VIC and Northam, WA who provide support to women and families experiencing breast cancer.
Currently celebrating its tenth anniversary year, the McGrath Foundation’s goal is to increase the number of McGrath Breast Care Nurses to 110 across Australia.
To launch the campaign, Tracy Bevan, McGrath Foundation Ambassador & Director will attend celebrations at Bray’s IGA in Allambie Heights, with Manly McGrath Breast Care Nurse, Elaine Arnold. Bray’s IGA manager, Andrew Bray, has kicked off the Community Chest fundraising initiative by turning his store (including main IGA logo) the signature shade of McGrath Foundation pink and drummed up further local support by installing collection boxes in every shop in the shopping village.
Fergus Collins, CEO of Supermarkets, Metcash, said of the fundraising: “It is an absolute honour for us to help the McGrath Foundation raise money to place breast care nurses in communities across Australian and raise breast awareness in Australians, particularly young women.”
“IGA’s Community Chest initiative has driven a substantial amount of money for various causes across the country and I am so proud of the support that our store teams provide to raise both awareness and funds for such worthy campaigns. As a result of just part of this fundraising, we are delighted to have been able to place two McGrath Breast Care Nurses and aim to place many more in the future,” Mr Collins continued.
McGrath Foundation Ambassador Tracy Bevan added: “We are incredibly proud of our friendship with IGA, who have been an amazing friend to the Foundation. The reality is, without the support of initiatives like this we couldn’t do what we do. It’s been wonderful to see the Australian public really get behind IGA’s continued support of the McGrath Foundation.”
According to the most recent statistics, it is estimated that 42 people will be diagnosed with breast cancer in Australia every day each year. In Australia, one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer by the age of 85 and 100 men are also diagnosed with the condition each year*.
From 11th February – 3rd March 2015, IGA stores nationwide will help to raise money for the McGrath Foundation through donations made on hundreds of ‘Community Chest’ labelled products across stores – for more information visit
http://www.iga.com.au/mcgrath/
