Nine Pa. Retailers Sign on for Governor's 'Golden Opportunities Challenge'
HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Gov. Ed Rendell has enlisted the support of several retailers across the commonwealth to participate in what he calls a "Golden Opportunities Challenge" to stimulate Pennsylvania's state lottery program.
As the first of its kind in the nation, the Golden Opportunities Challenge invites each of the approximately 440,000 companies that do business in Pennsylvania -- from corner stores to major corporations -- to purchase lottery tickets in bulk, on an ongoing basis and as often as they can, to increase productivity among employees as rewards for jobs well done.
The Pennsylvania Lottery is the only state lottery to devote all its proceeds to programs that benefit older residents.
"The Golden Opportunities Challenge will help us reach our goal of increasing lottery sales by 22 percent to $2.6 billion a year during the next two years," Gov. Rendell said. "It is one of many innovative and aggressive ideas to come; ideas that will not only drive sales, but will also get more Pennsylvanians -- players, non-players, business and community leaders -- talking about and involved with the lottery."
Among those joining Gov. Rendell to launch the program were: Vicki Clites, director of human resources, Giant Eagle, Inc., Pittsburgh; Jeanne Porter, director of public relations, Boyer's Food Markets, Orwigsburg; Don Price, retired e.v.p., Wawa, Inc., Wawa; Rick Russell, director of state and local government relations, Hershey Foods Corp., Hershey; and Todd Rutter, president, Rutter's Dairy/Rutter's Farm Stores, York.
Commenting on Hershey's decision to participate in the program, Hershey's Russell said: "The Golden Opportunities Challenge provides us an opportunity to incorporate a fun and exciting new element to our employee rewards and recognition program, while at the same time supporting the commonwealth's efforts to meet the increasing needs of our older residents."
As the first of its kind in the nation, the Golden Opportunities Challenge invites each of the approximately 440,000 companies that do business in Pennsylvania -- from corner stores to major corporations -- to purchase lottery tickets in bulk, on an ongoing basis and as often as they can, to increase productivity among employees as rewards for jobs well done.
The Pennsylvania Lottery is the only state lottery to devote all its proceeds to programs that benefit older residents.
"The Golden Opportunities Challenge will help us reach our goal of increasing lottery sales by 22 percent to $2.6 billion a year during the next two years," Gov. Rendell said. "It is one of many innovative and aggressive ideas to come; ideas that will not only drive sales, but will also get more Pennsylvanians -- players, non-players, business and community leaders -- talking about and involved with the lottery."
Among those joining Gov. Rendell to launch the program were: Vicki Clites, director of human resources, Giant Eagle, Inc., Pittsburgh; Jeanne Porter, director of public relations, Boyer's Food Markets, Orwigsburg; Don Price, retired e.v.p., Wawa, Inc., Wawa; Rick Russell, director of state and local government relations, Hershey Foods Corp., Hershey; and Todd Rutter, president, Rutter's Dairy/Rutter's Farm Stores, York.
Commenting on Hershey's decision to participate in the program, Hershey's Russell said: "The Golden Opportunities Challenge provides us an opportunity to incorporate a fun and exciting new element to our employee rewards and recognition program, while at the same time supporting the commonwealth's efforts to meet the increasing needs of our older residents."