General

Packer great Leroy Butler’s second cookbook, “Leroy Butler’s Leaping Into Your Kitchen Again,” will be available exclusively at Sendik’s Food Markets beginning Wednesday, October 10.  The book features many of Butler’s favorite recipes, which are prepared with ingredients from Sendik’s. The book will sell for $25 with proceeds benefiting the Leroy Butler Foundation, a charity that provides financial assistance to families impacted by breast cancer.

“I’m excited to share my favorite recipes with the fans,” said Butler. “These are recipes I’ve had in my head for years, and it was fun to write them down. More importantly, the cookbook helps us do a lot of good by supporting women who are impacted by breast cancer.”

Butler will be making personal appearances at all 10 local Sendik’s stores to autograph copies of the book for customers and share information about his foundation. Customers can also support the charity by purchasing the Leroy Butler Burger. The gourmet burger is sold exclusively in Sendik’s full-service meat department.

“Leroy’s Foundation is doing great things in our community,” said Nick Balistreri, who owns Sendik’s, along with brothers Ted and Patrick, and sister, Margaret Harris. “It’s rewarding for us to be able to support this charity, and it’s fun for our customers to have the chance to meet Leroy. We look forward to raising even more money with this new cookbook.”

This is the second cookbook by Butler, following 2009′s “Leaping into the Kitchen with Leroy Butler.” The title plays off Butler’s famous, spontaneous leap into the stands at Lambeau Field, inventing the now-famous “Lambeau Leap.”

This morning, students at Thurston Woods School in Milwaukee received backpacks filled with school supplies as part of the Backpack Buddies program sponsored by Sendik’s Food Markets, FOX6 and Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin. Funds to purchase the backpacks were raised during the month of August through sales of Backpack Buddies at all 10 Balistreri owned and operated Sendik’s.

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Sendik’s Food Markets concluded its summer fundraising period by collecting $73,000 for Penfield Children’s Center. The total, raised during the months of May, June and July, represents a nearly 50% increase over the $50,000 donation to Penfield at this time last year. The local non-profit, a leader in child development, helps infants and young children with and without disabilities to reach their full potential through education, therapy services and family programs.

Margaret Harris, who owns Sendik’s, along with brothers Ted, Patrick and Nick Balistreri, presented the check to Christine Holmes, Penfield president, and Steve Cain, representing the Penfield board of directors, before last night’s Brewers victory over the Philadelphia Phillies at Miller Park.

The funds were collected through a variety of in-store promotions that Sendik’s customers generously supported. All proceeds from the sale of $1 lollipops during the month of May and $1 American Flags during the month of June went directly to support Penfield, as did proceeds from the sale of the summer issue of Sendik’s Real Food Magazine and Sendik’s-branded tumblers.

Christine Holmes expressed her thanks by saying, “Penfield Children’s Center is so grateful to Sendik’s and all of the customers for their incredible generosity.  This contribution will be used to help support family programs, nutrition education and will enable Penfield to continue to deliver quality programming to over 1,400 children annually.”

Penfield Children’s Center is named in honor of Dr. Wilder Penfield (1891-1976), a world-renowned neurosurgeon who strongly advocated early intervention for children with developmental delays and disabilities. To carry out their mission, the organization delivers research-based programs at the critical time of early brain development when physical, cognitive, language, social, and self-help skills are formed.

With the baseball season at it’s midpoint, the Brewers have stolen 63 bases, netting $6,300 for the MACC Fund. With each stolen bag by the team this year, Sendik’s Food Markets — home of the ‘Red Bag’ — is donating $100 to the MACC Fund. Fans have been tracking the progress all season on Sendik’s website and through social media.

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Continuing its ongoing support of local charities, Sendik’s Food Markets recently concluded it’s spring quarterly fundraising efforts with a $51,100 donation to ABCD: After Breast Cancer Diagnosis. The donation was collected through a variety of in-store activities during the month’s of February, March and April, including the sale of the spring issue of Sendik’s Real Food Magazine.

A presentation of this year’s donation will take place prior to Wednesday’s game between the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers when Margaret Harris, who owns Sendik’s, along with brothers Ted, Patrick and Nick Balistreri, will present a check to ABCD representatives Elizabeth “Betsy” Brenner, president, and Ginny Finn, executive director.

Founded in 1999 by Melodie Wilson, ABCD continues to grow, providing free personalized one-to-one support to people affected by breast cancer throughout Wisconsin. Sendik’s reminded customers of this one-to-one method through unique in-store promotions, including selling pedometers, a reminder that ABCD is involved in ‘every step’ of the cancer journey. Additional funds were raised by selling chocolate candy hearts around Valentine’s Day and donating a portion of proceeds  from select ice cream purchases.

“Our family and our Sendik’s associates are always happy to be able to support ABCD,” said Margaret Harris. “The impact of a breast cancer diagnosis is lessened when you are able to share it with the one-on-one mentor provided by ABCD. They have the resources and the compassion to step in when they are most needed. We are proud to provide awareness and assistance to such a wonderful Wisconsin organization.”

Support for ABCD’s work has been a part of Sendik’s since 2006 and involves direct corporate support and contributions from Sendik’s loyal customers.  This year’s gift will be used to assure the quality and continuing growth of free support services for patients, family and friends affected by breast cancer.

May was a busy month for Sendik’s Food Markets. The family-owned grocer was honored with two awards that reinforce its commitment to better the communities it serves.

Balistreri owned and operated Sendik’s Food Markets was listed among the Top Workplaces in Southeastern Wisconsin in the Journal Sentinel’s annual list of local employers. The company employs more than 1,500 associates in its 10 locations, and it was recognized in the large company category amongst those employers with 500 or more employees.

Winners are selected based on a survey of associates, which made the honor particularly special for the Balistreri family.

“Our commitment to our customers starts with our commitment to our associates,” said Ted Balistreri, who owns Sendik’s along with brothers Patrick and Nick, and sister, Margaret Harris.  ”We are delighted to be selected a top workplace.  It motivates us to get even better.”

Sendik’s was also awarded the Regional Spirit Award by BizTimes Milwaukee for the impact the company is having on the greater Milwaukee area. This distinction was part of the publication’s IQ and Bravo! Entrepreneur awards that recognized business innovators.

“Our spirit at Sendik’s is strong because of our belief that a completely independent, family owned and operated grocer can thrive in the community that we grew up in and love,” said Ted Balistreri.  ”We are humbled that the BizTimes has honored us in this way.”