Smith’s Launches Sixth Annual “Round Up for Glacier” to Bring Students to the Park this School Year
(COLUMBIA FALLS, MONT.) – Glacier National Park Conservancy (GNPC) announced that for the sixth consecutive year, Smith’s Food & Drug Centers in Columbia Falls and Kalispell will sponsor “Round-Up for Glacier”, running now through July 27th. Customers will be asked to “round-up” their grocery bill to the nearest dollar. All donations will fund field trip transportation to Glacier National Park for local schools with limited travel budgets.
Smith’s Neighbor to Neighbor Program will provide a matching grant of up to $3,000. This year’s goal is to raise $10,000 which will fund field trip opportunities for 2,000 students from school districts that surround the park during the 2014-2015 school year.
“Glacier National Park’s educational programs provide transformative experiences for Montana students,” said GNPC president Mark Preiss. “From winter snow shoe walks where young children learn to identify animal tracks in the snow, to high school field science where students learn advanced scientific research skills, these field trips are an essential component of our local school system curriculum, and one critical way to develop Glacier’s next generation of stewards.”
Smith’s Round Up is an important piece of the Glacier education program, providing needed funding for transportation that would otherwise not be available. “We thank Smith’s and hundreds of other supporters who prioritize park based learning opportunities and donate funding to make Glacier field trips possible,” said Preiss.
Smith’s is a division of the Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR), one of the nation’s largest grocery retailers. From its division office in Salt Lake City, Smith’s operates 124 stores in seven western states, including four in Montana. Smith’s charitable giving totaled $193,000 in cash and food in Montana in 2013. For more information about Smith’s go to www.smithsfoodanddrug.com.
Glacier National Park Conservancy is the official philanthropic and outreach partner of Glacier National Park, and invests in preservation, education and research that enrich the Glacier experience. In 2014, GNPC is supporting 20 projects in Glacier National Park including Glacier Youth Corps, the Apgar Visitor Center rehabilitation, the Many Glacier Bridle Path, and Native America Speaks. Learn more at glacierconservancy.org .
