Rite Aid Foundation awards $2.4 million to child-focused charities

Nonprofits like Harrisburg-based Joshua House and Caitlin’s Smiles were two of 481 organizations nationally to receive funding in The Rite Aid Foundation’s 2020 KidCents class.

For the past six years, Rite Aid and its nonprofit foundation in Camp Hill have offered grant money through the foundation’s KidCents program to charities across the country shown to improve the health and wellbeing of children.

This year, the foundation added 69 charities to its growing list of nonprofits, making it the foundation’s largest group of nonprofits awarded funds since the program began.

KidCents is funded through Rite Aid’s loyalty program, which allows customers to round up their purchases to donate. This year, the foundation collected $2.4 million for the program.

With the money raised, the foundation will give each of the 481 nonprofits a $5,000 grant to be used at their discretion.

“More than three million Rite Aid customers actively choose to make meaningful contributions to help children in their communities through KidCents,” said Jessica Kazmaier, president of The Rite Aid Foundation and Rite Aid chief human resources officer. “The program’s growth is a testament to their generosity and commitment to building safer, stronger and more supportive communities for youth across the country. The 2020 KidCents class has the opportunity to prove that change adds up exponentially, and we look forward to helping them achieve their goal of giving kids better lives and brighter futures.”

Pennsylvania nonprofits participating in KidCents include Aevidum in Lititz, Aaron’s Acres in Lancaster and Joshua House and Caitlin’s Smiles in Harrisburg.