Local Grocers Raise Money for UCLA Children's Hospital

Ralphs and Food 4 Less stores are helping raise money for pediatric hospitals across Southern California by passing on spare change that customers donate through May 25, the grocery stores announced Wednesday.

"Ralphs believes strongly in giving back to the communities our stores serve," Donna Giordano, Ralphs president, said. "We're pleased to extend our commitment to community service to our local children's hospitals. We cannot think of a better way to invest in our communities than by giving families and children hope through our support of the outstanding work these hospitals are doing to provide world-class medical care for children."

The hospitals to benefit will be Children's Hospital of Orange County, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Mattel Children's Hospital at UCLA, Miller's Children's Hospital in Long Beach, Loma Linda University Children's Hospital, Rady Children's Hospital in San Diego and Cottage Children's Hospital in Santa Barbara.

Ralphs, which last year donated about $6 million to charities, operates 243 supermarkets, and Food 4 Less, which had donations of about $4 million last year, operates 146. Both are owned by Kroger Co.