The University of South Alabama Mitchell Cancer Institute has received a $25,000 gift from the Winn-Dixie Foundation. The donation was part of a tour of the Jacksonville-based grocer’s operating area. 

In addition to seven donations in the Gulf South totaling $175,000, the Winn-Dixie Foundation made similar donations to charities throughout the Southeast, totaling $900,000.

At a presentation held at Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana, Peter Lynch, president, CEO and chairman of the board of Winn-Dixie, assisted by Rita Benson LeBlanc, EVP/Owner of the New Orleans Saints, presented gift-wrapped, oversized $25,000 checks to representatives from the USA Mitchell Cancer Institute and other six other organizations.

“For more than 80 years, Winn-Dixie has been known as the company with a heart,” said Lynch. “Today, we continue that tradition by donating funds from our Foundation to worthy organizations that share our goal of helping to improve the lives of families in the neighborhoods we serve.” 

Travis Grantham, USA’s director of medical development and alumni relations, said, “The Winn Dixie Foundation's commitment to the USA Mitchell Cancer Institute will have a long-lasting and profoundly positive impact on cancer patients and their families within the Gulf Coast region and beyond.”

The Winn-Dixie Foundation gift is part of Campaign USA, the University’s first comprehensive fund-raising campaign that seeks to raise $75 million for USA programs, faculty, students and construction over three years. Campaign USA was launched in March 2006 and, to date, has raised $64.7 million. The Campaign USA Leadership team is comprised of local civic, business and national leaders, many of whom are alumni.

Campaign USA will enrich all aspects of USA, from its academic colleges and schools to its hospitals, athletic programs, libraries and campuses. The money raised will be used to fund such items as undergraduate and graduate scholarships, professorships, classroom and laboratory equipment, and health care innovations. Funds will also be used for capital enhancements to USA’s track and soccer programs and a campus bell tower.

For information on Campaign USA, visit www.campaignusaleadership.com or call (251) 460-7032.

The University of South Alabama

Since its founding in 1963, the University of South Alabama has been one of Alabama’s fastest growing universities, currently enrolling more than 14,000 students in a wide range of academic programs in Allied Health Professions, Arts and Sciences, Mitchell College of Business, Computer and Information Sciences, Continuing Education and Special Programs, Education, Engineering, Medicine, Nursing and Pharmacy. The University has awarded 60,000 degrees.

In addition to teaching and research, USA is one of the largest health care providers in the Mobile region, with its faculty physicians and two hospitals – Children’s & Women’s and USA Medical Center ­­– involved in more than a quarter million patient encounters annually. 

The Winn-Dixie Foundation

The non-profit Winn-Dixie Foundation was created in 1944 and makes grants to local non-profit organizations focused on hunger, children and youth activities, education and health initiatives.  It is funded by The Winn-Dixie Charity Classic presented by Wachovia which was held this year on October 30, and generated $1.425 million.

Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc., is one of the nation’s largest food retailers, with 521 stores.  Founded in 1925, the company is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida.  For more information, please visit www.winn-dixie.com.