12 News Peanut Butter & Jelly Drive

Jan D'Atri shares her special PB&J recipe

Despite a challenging economy, 12 News’ Peanut Butter and Jelly Drive raised more than $66,000 to benefit Valley Boys and Girls Clubs.

Throughout the month of July, more than 80 Bashas’ and Food City stores collected $1 and $5 donations at their registers.

“Thanks to overwhelming support from our community, we more than doubled our goal,” said Susy Ferra, community relations manager of Bashas’ Family of Stores. “It just goes to show how generous our community can be when there’s such a strong need.” The total amount raised includes donations from 12 News viewers; Bashas’ and Food City customers; Arizona Republic readers; Bimbo/Orowheat bread company; and Smuckers and JIF peanut butter.

“The community came forward to support this Peanut Butter and Jelly Drive in full force,” said Becky Hornack of the Boys & Girls Clubs. “These funds will give Valley children the opportunities and resources they need to make smart, healthy choices.”

About Valley Boys & Girls Clubs Three different Boys & Girls Clubs organizations serve the Valley of the Sun- they include the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix, Boys & Girls Clubs of the East Valley and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale. Together, these three entities cover the communities across the Valley including both the Salt River Pima-Maricopa and Gila River Indian Reservations. Known as "The Positive Place for Kids," the Clubs provide guidance-oriented character development programs on a daily basis for children 6-18 years old, conducted by a full time professional staff. Boys & Girls Club programs emphasize leadership development, education and career exploration, financial literacy, health and life skills, the arts, sports, fitness and recreation, plus family outreach.

About Bashas’ Family of Stores Bashas’ Family of Stores – the family-owned grocer that operates Food City, AJ’s Fine Foods, Sportsman’s Wine & Spirits, Ike’s Farmers Market, Eddie’s Country Store, and both Bashas’ and Bashas’ Diné supermarkets – is an Arizona-based company founded by brothers Ike and Eddie Basha, Sr. With more than 13,000 members and 160 grocery stores, it is the 8th-largest employer in the state and one of the Best Places to Work in Arizona. Since the company’s inception in 1932, Bashas’ has given back more than $100 million to the communities it serves. For more information, visit www.bashas.com and www.myfoodcity.com.

About Gannett Co., Inc. Gannett Co., Inc. is a leading international news and information company that publishes 90 daily newspapers in the USA, including USA TODAY, the nation's largest-selling daily newspaper. The company also owns nearly 1,000 non-daily publications in the USA and USA WEEKEND, a weekly newspaper magazine. Gannett subsidiary Newsquest is the United Kingdom’s second largest regional newspaper company. Newsquest publishes nearly 300 titles, including 18 daily newspapers, and a network of prize-winning Web sites. Gannett also operates 23 television stations in the United States and is an Internet leader with sites sponsored by its TV stations and newspapers including USATODAY.com, one of the most popular news sites on the Web.