ANNAPOLIS – Use Durex-brand condoms to celebrate Valentine’s Day and local schools can reap the benefits.
Giant Food shoppers planning for a sexy holiday can earn money for their schools when they purchase a dozen Extra Sensitive Durex condoms using their Bonus Card.
For every package Giant sells through Feb. 22 to school supporters, Durex will donate 23 cents to the store’s A+ Bonus Bucks program, which contributes $400,000 a month to purchase supplies for public and private schools.
Extra credit items, like the condoms, are worth $50 of other groceries when the store allocates money to schools.
Product marketers use the program because the visibility and incentive drive up sales, said Giant Food spokesman Jamie Miller.
“We definitely support all the retailers who support educational programs and are happy to help the schools,” said Durex brand-manager Tonya Kramer.
Durex chose to feature its product during Valentine’s Day because it is one of the best times of the year for condom sales and would make more money for the schools, Kramer said.
Giant divides the proceeds from the fund based on which schools have the most points, and delivers them to individual schools, which use them to purchase computers.
The $7.49 condom 12-pack is one of 700 “extra-credit” items available in the store between Feb. 9 and Feb. 22.
The points are a powerful tool for Parent Teacher Associations across the state to raise money for schools.
“In PTA-land we really don’t have a position that would be antagonistic to Giant putting its points on any products,” said Carroll County PTA President Deborah Wessner.
Bonus Bucks coordinators at several schools, including Arthur Slade Regional Catholic School and Bowie High School, say they like the program and equipment, but would not comment about the products Giant promotes.
Condoms, soft drinks, toilet bowl cleaners and waffles are all part of the plan this week. Giant does not discriminate among products when offering the promotion, Miller said.
“Whether it’s condoms or sanitation or female hygienic products, it’s ultimately up to parents who are purchasing the items to select products that will help their schools,” he said.
In order to make revenue for a school, a shopper must register for a Bonus Card and designate a school to receive the proceeds. – 30 – CNS-2-12-03