ShopRite recently held its annual golf LPGA powered by Wakefern Food Group, hosting a week of charitable initiatives that culminated in a community luncheon where a record $2 million in grants was awarded to more than 70 organizations.
The community luncheon took place Friday as the three‑day tournament got into full swing. On May 31, champion Celine Boutier rallied from four strokes back to shoot a final‑round 66 and capture the tournament by one stroke. With the win, she joined Anna Nordqvist, Stacy Lewis, Juli Inkster, Annika Sorenstam and Betsy King as multiple winners of the event.
“The ShopRite community luncheon is one of the most meaningful parts of our LPGA partnership, and this year we recognized 73 organizations creating real change in our communities,” said Karen Meleta, chief communications officer for Wakefern Food Corp. “We are incredibly proud to award a record $2 million to support their work and the countless individuals and families these organizations serve.”
Wakefern President Mike Stigers shared, “We remain dedicated to strengthening our communities and championing women’s sports. The ShopRite LPGA powered by Wakefern brings that commitment to life and allows us to make an impact both on and off the course. The luncheon is a special way to cap off a week that included so many moments of giving back to the communities ShopRite stores serve.”
The community luncheon is a centerpiece of ShopRite LPGA week and this year, representatives from different organizations gathered to accept grants that will go to support healthcare, mental health, youth development, food security and many other essential community services.
Luncheon speakers included Jane Asselta, president and CEO of the Food Bank of South Jersey; Heather Andersen, president and CEO of Special Olympics New Jersey; and Jordan Coe of Waverly Markets, whose family‑run company operates three ShopRite stores in Connecticut.
Additional community programming included:
- Bike Build: Volunteers assembled 50 bikes for donation to the Boys & Girls Club of Atlantic City, hosted with Can’dAid and sponsors Yasso and The Magnum Ice Cream Company.
- Special Olympics New Jersey Golf Clinic: Athletes and families participated alongside LPGA players. ShopRite and Wakefern presented a $150,000 donation to Special Olympics New Jersey.
- TeamSmile Dental Clinic: In collaboration with Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures and TeamSmile, nearly 200 children received free oral health exams, treatment and education, and met LPGA players. Children also took part in a Food Pyramid Challenge and filled a bag with nutritious foods from ShopRite.
- First‑Tee: For the second year, ShopRite awarded scholarships to 12 high school students through First‑Tee, a youth development organization that uses golf to teach life skills, confidence and leadership.
- We Give Back Here Challenge: Pro‑Am players attempted a hole‑in‑one; closest‑to‑pin winners received money for their chosen charity. ShopRite donated $10,000 to four charities.
- K9 For Warriors: With Purina Dog Chow’s Service Dog Salute program, ShopRite donated $2,500 to K9 For Warriors, which provides trained service dogs to veterans living with PTSD.
ShopRite also increased the tournament purse and provided complimentary lodging for the full 144‑player field. The 2026 tournament featured Team ShopRite, created in 2025 to support four golfers as they pursue their LPGA Tour dreams.
“Sport has a unique power to create meaningful impact, and the longstanding support from ShopRite and Wakefern plays a vital role in advancing that mission,” said Ryan Dever, tournament director. “We’re proud to work alongside them as the LPGA Tour’s longest‑running title sponsor.”
For independent grocers, ShopRite’s integrated giving model – blending tournament sponsorship, volunteer events, and direct grants – shows how even a cooperative of independents can drive community impact at scale. The luncheon’s 2 million in grants went to more than 70 local organizations, many of which are the same food banks, youth programs and health clinics that indpendents support on a smaller budget.
While few independents can match a the principle of tying community giving to a signature local event – a summer festival, a little league sponsorship or a school fundraiser – builds the same kind of goodwill and customer loyalty. The dental clinic and bike build also demonstrate that in‑kind support (volunteer hours, product donations) can be as meaningful as cash.
Atlantic City’s largest sporting event, the ShopRite LPGA has drawn fans to the Jersey Shore for more than three decades and generates more than $25 million in annual economic impact for the region.
About ShopRite
ShopRite is the registered trademark of Wakefern Food Corp., a retailer‑owned cooperative based in Keasbey, New Jersey. Through its ShopRite Partners In Caring program, ShopRite has donated 65 million to food banks since 1999. As title sponsor of the ShopRite LPGA, ShopRite has donated more than 47 million to local organizations, hospitals and community groups.