M artin L uther K ing J r .
January 15, 2020
2020 special edition
Page 5
A Campaign for Future Black Leaders
Natural
Grocers
partners with
Jack and Jill
nonprofit
Natural Grocers, the new
natural and organic grocery lo-
cated at Alberta Commons in
the heart of Portland’s African
American community, and in
conjunction with its other stores
in Portland and across the coun-
try, has joined a public service
campaign with Jack and Jill of
America to support future Afri-
can-American leaders.
Kicking off for the Martin
Luther King Jr. national holi-
day on Jan. 20 and continuing
through Black History Month
and beyond, the “Supporting
America’s Families Together”
campaign will raise donations
to support Jack and Jill schol-
arships to students attending
historically black colleges and
the nonprofit’s other programs
for young people like job and
The Natural Grocers store at Northeast Alberta and Martin Luther King Jr. and other Natural
Grocers outlets are teaming up with the black-led nonprofit Jack and Jill of America to raise
money for scholarships and other supports for future African American leaders.
internship opportunities and
career training.
On Martin Luther King Day,
2.5% of all Natural Grocers
sales across the country will
be donated to Jack and Jill
programs supporting the fu-
ture success of black students.
Additionally, starting on MLK
Day and running through the
month of February, Natural
Grocers’ customers will have
the opportunity to make contri-
butions directly to the Jack and
Jill charitable funds to empow-
er future black leaders at any
one of Natural Grocers’ 154
store locations.
Jack and Jill America, with
chapters in Oregon and across
the nation, was founded by
black mothers in 1938 with
the mission of stimulating the
growth and development of
children through educational,
cultural, civic, recreational,
health and social programs.
Natural Grocers’ goal is to em-
power people to reach a health-
ier lifestyle and approach to
eating, company officials said.
“At Natural Grocers, our core
principles not only define who
we are, but also who we partner
with in our mission to improve
the health and wellbeing of our
communities by providing ac-
cess to affordable, high quality
food and nutrition education,”
said Kemper Isely, Natural Gro-
cers chairman and co-president.
“As our partner, Jack and Jill of
America, helps us to reinforce
our purpose-driven mission
to all communities across the
country.”
The new campaign start-
ed in October when Jack and
Jill members received a Nat-
ural Grocers + Jack and Jill
of America Partnership card,
which when presented at a Nat-
ural Grocers check out auto-
matically triggers an uncapped
5% of sales give-back to the
organization.
“We have been thrilled
with the response,” said Tracy
Mack-Askew, Portland Willa-
mette chapter president.