Grocery cards aid SMU athletics

With approximately 2,400 SMU affiliated people using the KrogerPlus Stampede Savings card, the program brings in approximately$60,000 annually, according to the SMU athletic department.

The athletic department teamed up with Kroger grocery stores inan effort to raise more money in the Fall 2002. The Kroger PlusStampede Savings program introduced a new club card toparticipating students, parents and alumni. Each time they use thesavings card, two percent of the total purchase goes to SMU.

The cards provide the users with the same discounts as theregular Kroger Plus cards, but instead of Kroger keeping the money,it is given to SMU.

Once this money reaches SMU, the athletic department gets a 50percent cut while the alumni association and SMU get one-fourth ofthe total profit.

“We would have liked to have kept 100 percent, but itsbetter for the university and alumni if we split it,” saidShawn Hilbron, sales and marketing representative for SMUathletics.

Brad Sutton in media relations for the athletic department saidthe athletic department’s $30,000 went to the general budget.The department doesn’t think of the money as coming from acertain source.

“Nothing has been that specific,” Sutton said.

When the program began, students were given temporary cards atfootball games, but many students have since lost these cards. Now,Kroger has printed up a separate card just for SMU.

“I’ve been meaning to get a new card, but I justdon’t know where to find one,” sophomore RebeccaMcKenzie said. The cards can be picked up in Room 101 in MoodyColiseum. Students can call (214) 768-1648 and leave their name andmailing address to have a card sent to them free of charge.

The athletic department hopes more students and staff will takethe opportunity to save money and benefit SMU.

“We send Kroger the shoppers, they give the shoppersdiscounts, and we receive two percent of the purchase,” Mr.Hilbron said. “It’s a win-win situation.”