RetailROI Turns 10 Years Old

by Greg Buzek

Celebrate with us! RetailROI turns 10

It was at Oracle OpenWorld on September 15, 2008 (the day that Lehman Brothers shut their doors) that the idea of RetailROI was hatched with 6 friends who worked for different companies. We wondered how instead of just competing with each other, what if together the industry could do some good.

The cause – helping the 400 million orphaned and vulnerable children. At that point we began investigating what it would take to start a charity and about 6 weeks later we chipped in the initial investment and RetailROI was born. A geeky name, a play on words, and we had no idea where it would go.

We had 3 goals:
1) Open people’s eyes to the needs of the most vulnerable in our world.
2) Use our skills, networks, and companies to help make a difference.
3) Come alongside highly efficient charities already doing this work with expertise and funding in the areas of clean water, education, computers, trafficking, foster care, orphan care or adoption where we could help exponentially grow their work.

This week we celebrate 10 years!!!!!

Some key numbers on how you have helped….
• Over 225,000 children have been given a hand-up in 24 different countries in 192 projects
• 9 schools built, over 30 computer labs, more than 10 clean water projects, and at least 4 other charities started
• 94% of all funds coming in going to grants to help kids (since the first year)

We are so thankful because of your support over 700 women and children have been rescued from sex trafficking, you helped end Ebola through the purchase of an ambulance that reduced call time from 4 days to 30 minutes, and were strategically positioned to provide help before the military and other charities for the earthquake in Nepal and hurricane in Haiti. More than 1,200 children have been adopted and over 22,000 children in the US who would otherwise be in foster care are instead in more stable families with support.

Numbers are great, but this is really about individual children like Weedor, Elijah, and Stephen, and thousands upon thousands of others who have a brighter future because of you being involved. THANK YOU!

But we still need you…please join us for SuperSaturday on January 12, 2019 in NYC before the annual trade show.

Every retailer, restaurant, or CPG company representative registered before Nov. 15th generates about $5,000 in vendor sponsorships.

You showing up for great content brings the results we shared above…so please come celebrate with us…and

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

Together we can make a HUGE Difference