The Retail Orphan Initiative (RetailROI), a charitable foundation created to help more than 400 million vulnerable children worldwide, is celebrating its fifth anniversary. Since its inception, RetailROI has helped more than 110,000 orphaned and vulnerable children worldwide through 69 projects spanning education, computers, food and medical care.
More than 94% of the funds gathered by RetailROI have been used in direct support of charities that provide hands-on relief for orphan care, adoption relief, foster care support and rescue of children from human trafficking, according to a company press release.
RetailROI has three primary goals, according to the company web site:
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- To bring awareness to the needs of orphans worldwide;
- To encourage companies to create programs internally; and
- To raise funds to help “feet on the street” charities.
“It has been an honor to watch the industry come together and to meet so many of the kids that we have helped,” said Greg Buzek, Donor Trustee of RetailROI. “There are so many great people that want to help, so when we provide that opportunity it dramatically changes their outlook and worldview.”
Buzek added that ”seeing the faces of the kids we have helped, and then watching the impact on people in our industry has been a hidden joy for me in these first five years. It is exciting to see where this can go in the future.”
Jeff Roster, Research VP at Gartner, and an active participant in RetailROI activities, added: “My involvement in RetailROI has been life changing, both professionally and personally. I’ve had a chance to work with the brightest minds in retail working to help some of the most desperate and vulnerable people on the planet. Congratulations to the retail industry for embracing this cause, and as we are fond of saying, ‘We are just getting started!'”
In January each year, RetailROI also hosts the annual SuperSaturday educational event prior to the National Retail Federation (NRF) annual Convention and Expo in New York City. All proceeds from vendor sponsorships are donated in full to Retail ROI. Registration for the 2014 event is now open.
