What is more satisfying on a hot summer day than a cool dip in a swimming pool? Everyone can relate but sadly with severe budget cuts needed across municipalities nationwide, many children only look longingly at their local community pool with disappointment.

SAVING SUMMER. Save Mart Supermarkets is leading an effort to keep community pools open this summer. / Photo iStockphoto

Save Mart stores in Sacramento want to change that and help local families be able to enjoy their community pools by the time the mercury starts to rise in the Valley. Through the “Help Save Mart Save Our Pools” campaign, Save Mart has pledged to match up to $500,000 in donations from businesses and the community at large, thus potentially making $1 million dollars available to support pool maintenance and programs within the City of Sacramento.

Beginning on Valentine’s Day, Save Mart will kick off its community fund-raising campaign in partnership with the City of Sacramento.  Businesses and the community at large are asked to give generously at their local Save Mart stores by purchasing a paper “Help Save Mart Save Our Pools” icon for a $1.00 or more.  The campaign will run for two months from February 14 to April 10, ending just in time for the City to begin maintenance needed for the pools to open on time.

Save Mart supports the communities where it does business and after reading the New York Times article, the Sacramento City pools seemed like the perfect opportunity for Save Mart to give back to the neighborhoods surrounding its Sacramento stores. “Every bit helps,” explained Steve Junqueiro, President and Chief Operating Officer of Save Mart. “We’d love to see businesses join us as a sponsor, but we’d also love to see kids in those neighborhoods be inspired to hold car washes or lemonade stands and then donate their money to their local Save Mart where we can double their effort through our matching commitment.”

“For Sacramento, this opportunity comes at the perfect time. Every day, community pools across the country are closing their doors as funds dry up,” said Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson. “But thanks to ‘Save the Pools’, Sacramento has the chance to bring back a traditional summer activity for families and become a model for how public-private partnerships can succeed. I look forward to working with Save Mart on a campaign that will be a huge win for Sacramento.”