Pint-Size Publix Workers Check Out Possible Careers

MIAMI, FL., March 8, 2007 – Some Publix customers will have to look around – or actually down – to find a cashier on March 14. That’s because 91 sixth graders from South Pointe Elementary will take over the Publix at 1920 West Avenue in Miami Beach from 9:30 a.m.-noon. Not only will they be checking out groceries, they’ll be checking out their futures.

The day is part of a yearlong school-to-career program, called KAPOW or KIDS AND THE POWER OF WORK. It’s a joint effort by Miami-Dade County Public Schools and Publix Super Markets. Through KAPOW, teachers and volunteer business professionals collaborate to teach lessons that help children make the connection between school experiences and the real world. “Those dreaded math lessons start to make sense in aisle six, when kids have to figure out which brand of cookies is the best buy,” said Anne Hendricks, Publix manager of media and community relations.

The Publix site visit is a true work experience, engaging students in valuable hands-on activities including using the latest technology in cash registers, scanning and bagging groceries, taking inventory and decorating baked goods. South Pointe Elementary School uses the monthly KAPOW lessons -- taught by Publix volunteers -- to fulfill part of their School Performance Excellence Plan. "KAPOW's 300 volunteers from 70 companies are truly an inspiration for our young people," said John Casbarro with Miami-Dade County Public Schools. “They learn real life lessons that they’ll carry with them always.” This year alone, 6,500 students from 50 Miami-Dade elementary schools will participate in the KAPOW program.

Accompanying the children on their Publix workday will be culinary manager and KAPOW volunteer Miguel Yasser, principal Melanie Fishman and school KAPOW coordinator James Balzano.

For more information about KAPOW, please visit: www.kapow.org
or E-mail us at: [email protected]

Publix is privately owned and operated by its 142,000 employees, with 2006 sales of $21.7 billion. Currently Publix has 898 stores in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama and Tennessee. The company has been named one of Fortune’s “100 Best Companies to Work For in America” for ten consecutive years. In addition, Publix’s dedication to superior quality and customer service is recognized as tops in the grocery business, most recently by an American Customer Satisfaction Index survey.

For more information, visit the company’s Web site: www.publix.com