Albertson's Food & Drug Stores and Pillsbury Support Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.

TULSA, Okla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 15, 1999--

Albertson's Food and Drug stores partnered with The Pillsbury Co., a leading food manufacturer, to raise $5,000 to support the Big Brothers and Sisters of Green Country.

Funds were raised through the "Phone-A-Giggle" in-store promotions held at local Albertson's stores, where participants helped raise money by calling an 800 number and recording their giggles over the phone.

For every giggle recorded, Pillsbury and Albertson's made a donation to the local Big Brothers Big Sisters of America affiliate, and participants were also automatically entered into the national Pillsbury's Giggle-Off contest.

A ceremony to present the check to representatives from the local Big Brothers Big Sisters affiliate and acknowledge local volunteers will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 21 at 2:30 p.m. at the Albertson's store located at 3915 S. Peoria in Tulsa at 41st and Peoria.

Nationally, more than 900 Albertson's Food and Drug stores participated in the "Phone-A-Giggle" promotion to raise a total of $100,000, which will be donated to local Big Brothers Big Sisters of America affiliates nationwide.

The donation to Big Brothers Big Sisters of America is the result of the Customer Community Partnerships program that builds beneficial alliances between Pillsbury and grocery retailers in an effort to raise funds and build awareness for non-profit organizations that help young people.

Founder Joe Albertson opened his first store in Boise, Idaho, in 1939. Joe's simple philosophy of giving the customer the merchandise they want, at a price they can afford, complete with lots of tender loving care continues to guide Albertson's in its operation today of more than 2,400 stores.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of America is the largest national youth-mentoring organization based on the concept of a one-to-one relationship between an adult volunteer and an at-risk child. Big Brothers Big Sisters provides children with an adult friend to help them become competent, confident and caring individuals.

Pillsbury, a Minneapolis-based subsidiary of Diageo plc, produces a range of grocery items, frozen foods and refrigerated dough products for international consumer markets.

If you'd like to volunteer to help the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization check out their Web site at www.bbbsa.org. For additional information, contact: Janie Roach at 949/851-6313.