The owners of Milwaukee-based Sendik’s Food Market and their customers have donated $175,000 to Stars and Stripes Honor Flight, supporting the annual trip that takes Wisconsin veterans to the war memorials in Washington, D.C.
The Balistreri family was scheduled to present the check to Stars and Stripes Honor Flight executives and veterans Aug. 26 at the Sendik’s store at 10930 N. Port Washington Road in Mequon, Wisconsin.
“We are so proud to partner with Stars and Stripes Honor Flight to provide our local veterans with an unforgettable day in appreciation of their service,” said Ted Balistreri, co-owner of Sendik’s Food Market. “We would like to thank our generous customers for their generous contribution to support such a vital organization. We are continually inspired by the dedication of our communities to honor Wisconsin’s heroes.”
Local veterans will travel to Washington on Oct. 10 to visit the memorials.
“We are so grateful to Sendik’s leadership, associates and customers for their generous support of our veterans,” said Karyn Roelke, president of Stars and Stripes Honor Flight. 
Stars and Stripes Honor Flight has flown 10,819 local veterans to Washington since 2008 and has honored more than 50 local veterans who were not able to fly. It is one of more than 130 hubs in the national Honor Flight Network, which has taken more than 275,000 veterans to see their memorials.
Sendik’s has supported the organization for years through in-store fundraisers. A separate donation of $65,000, raised through the company’s annual golf outing with trading partners, went to the organization last year.
Founded in 1926 as a produce market in Shorewood, Wisconsin, Sendik’s is celebrating its centennial this year. The family-owned grocer operates 18 stores across southeastern Wisconsin and employs more than 2,000 associates.