At Wegmans, we’ve believed in giving back to every community we serve since we opened our first store back in 1916. Today, our giving priorities focus on several key areas, including education and youth support. In our hometown of Rochester, New York, we partner with many organizations that support local youth, including some that specifically focus on Hispanic youth.

Eugenio María de Hostos Charter School
Eugenio María de Hostos Charter School was established in 2000 to improve the educational alternatives for Rochester city students. The school is unique in that the students and staff are bilingual, with students participating in Spanish language programs from kindergarten through 12^th grade.

We’ve partnered with the school on our Wegmans Work Scholarship Program (WWSP) since 2023. The program was created in 1987 to increase graduation rates in the City of Rochester and introduce students to Wegmans. Each year, approximately 300 to 400 students participate in the program. Of the 300 students returning to the program this fall, 18 percent are Hispanic.

To participate in WWSP, students must meet and maintain a 70 percent or above grade point average and have consistent school attendance. In return, they receive ongoing support from both their school and a team of Wegmans employees, including their store manager, team leader, employee advocate, the store’s work scholarship champion, and Wegmans Work Scholarship Program Coordinator, Karen Wegman.

“We partner together to help the student navigate tough situations, whether it’s academic or personal,” said Karen, who has worked on the program for nearly 20 years. “We want to make sure the student realizes there’s this whole group of people around them to support them, help them, and guide them to be successful.”

Since our partnership began, nine students from the school have participated in WWSP, with three graduating in June 2024. The graduates received our employee scholarship and are continuing their careers with Wegmans as they decide what’s next.

“We love to take students from this program and give them full-time careers with us,” said Karen. “Whether it’s straight to a full-time job after graduation, or whether it’s two years of college, four years of college, whatever they need. We want them to know that we have it all here at Wegmans – we’re a lot more than just a cashiering job.”

Rochester Hispanic Youth Baseball League
Visit the east side of the city of Rochester on any summer day and you’ll find children practicing and playing baseball. In this section of the city, approximately 200 kids come together each year to play ball with the Rochester Hispanic Youth Baseball League (RHYBL).

Founded in 1996, the league’s mission is to enhance the lives of inner-city Hispanic youth, and their families, through baseball. RHYBL serves children ranging in age from five to 17 that live in specific zip codes of the city. Players participate in daily practice and games all summer long, with winter clinics offered during the off season.

Wegmans has partnered with the RHYBL for the past three years, providing a CPR kit to the league, donations each season, and sponsoring a team; the Wegmans Wolves. Katelyn Plonczynski-Cruz is a former Wegmans employee who has volunteered with the league for many years, serving as coach, vice president, and now as an advisor on the board. She’s watched many players grow up during their time with the league and go on to play for their high school baseball teams.

“There are numerous things that the league is dealing with on a regular basis, especially on the baseball field, with the needle epidemic, violence, etc. Regardless of these different barriers, these children are still trying to make it to the field to play baseball, just like any other children,” said Katelyn. “Watching them start from five years old, and then make the high school team, to me is the biggest reward, because I just watched them stick with something, and stay out of things we really don’t want to see. It can be too easy to go out and get involved in the wrong thing.”

For the first time in 28 years, RHYBL merged with Little League for the 2024 season. The merger provides the league with many benefits and gives players the opportunity to possibly play in the Little League World Series.

Borinquen Dance Theater
For over a decade, Wegmans has supported Borinquen Dance Theater (BDT), a beacon of hope and creativity for Rochester’s youth since 1981. BDT offers dance classes for ages five through 23, immersing students in the rich tapestry of Latin culture and dance.

Despite the challenges faced by many students in the Rochester City School District, BDT’s commitment to excellence shines through. With a requirement to maintain a 2.5 GPA, over 90 percent of BDT dancers defy the odds, graduating high school and pursuing successful careers in various fields.

“The mission of Borinquen Dance Theatre is to nurture the artistic, academic, and cultural development of area children through the discipline of dance,” said Yolanda Benitez, Wegmans priority projects director, who dedicated 14 years to BDT’s board. “This mission continues to inspire and uplift the community, one dance step at a time.”

Working Toward a Common Purpose
While these three organizations have different approaches, they all share a collective goal: improving the lives of local youth.

“At Wegmans, we see the importance of supporting these grassroots initiatives within our communities in order to provide kids with enriching opportunities for them to get outside, be active, be healthy, and feel a community around them,” said Melisza Campos, Wegmans director of diversity and inclusion. “By partnering with these organizations, we’re empowering them to make a difference in our neighborhoods, which in turn supports our mission of creating healthy, thriving communities.”