BOISE, ID -- Albertsons announced that it has donated $100,000 to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund to aid in the Florida recovery efforts for Hurricane Charley's aftermath. In addition, Albertsons stores remain committed to helping meet the local need for food and ice in the communities it serves.

"Albertsons is committed to helping the communities in which they live and work," commented Skip Seitz, svp of growth and integrated development of the American Red Cross. "Their employees, friends and families were affected and Albertsons support of the Red Cross ensures that thousands of people will get help when they need it most."

During the next two weeks, Albertsons is making it easy for customers across its 2,500 store network in 37 states to support the Florida relief effort through an in-store fundraiser for the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. Donations will be accepted in all of Albertsons family of stores: Acme, Albertsons, Jewel-Osco, Osco Drugs, Sav-On Drugs, Shaw's, Super Saver and Star Markets.

"Albertsons Hurricane Charley relief efforts go far beyond this initial donation of $100,000. We're working in the affected communities helping to meet the needs of emergency response teams and the local food banks," emphasized Larry Johnston, Albertsons chairman, ceo and president. "Many of our associates have been personally affected by this disaster and yet they have returned to work knowing that by being at our stores they are providing a vital community service and are helping make the recovery easier for thousands of other families."

Last year, Albertsons provided nearly $78 million in cash and in-kind donations to the communities it serves, with support focused on hunger relief, education and development of youth, and health and nutrition.


Albertsons Teams With Coca-Cola and Reading is Fundamental


In other news from Albertsons, the company is extending an innovative children's reading education program for a third year, Albertsons and Coca-Cola announced that they are donating 500,000 books to schools and children's organizations across the country.

"Children are our hope for the future, and an increased focus on literacy will make it easier for these young citizens to attain their life dreams," said Larry Johnston, chairman, ceo and president of Albertsons. "In partnership with Coca-Cola, we now have donated more than 1.5 million children's books to youth organizations throughout the country over the past three years. This year we are pleased to add Reading is Fundamental as a partner in the hallmark back-to-school program."

Albertsons and Coca-Cola created the program as part of a national partnership to encouraging reading by children from kindergarten through the fifth grade. The program is conducted at the local level by Albertsons retail stores and Coca-Cola bottlers. Reading is Fundamental, the nation's largest non-profit literacy organization, will handle distribution of the books to local schools.

Johnston launched the 2004 campaign today in an event at an Albertsons store in Boise, where he read a book to area Boys and Girls Club members, representative of the group of organizations who will benefit from the book contributions in the 37 states where Albertsons does business.

"Through the efforts of our caring and dedicated store associates, the generosity of hundreds of thousands of our customers, and education-oriented partnerships created with some of our valued suppliers, like Coca-Cola, we are helping provide resources that make a meaningful difference in the quality of education in the neighborhoods we serve," Johnston said.

Albertsons operates more than 2,500 retail stores in 37 states across the United States, under banners including Albertsons, Jewel-Osco, Acme, Albertsons-Osco, Albertsons-Sav-on, Sav-on Drugs, Osco Drug Super Saver, Shaw's and Star Market.