By Joe Skorupa

Walmart is a mega-donor to good causes through its fighting hunger in America campaign. And Target, too, along with Macy’s, JCPenney, Kohl’s, IKEA and L.L.Bean to name a few. Macro-level giving on this scale speaks well for retail, but what about you? As an individual executive can you step up in a meaningful way? Here is a retail-founded organization you can help right now with a single click of your computer.  

I did a fair amount of research for this blog about “cause marketing.” Let's just say that I understand corporations have vested interests, but there is clearly an element of creepiness to the messaging between the lines from the community of consultants that populate the field. Is donating with a marketing motive true and real giving, or is it receiving?

I guess it is a little of both, and I don’t really have a huge problem with it. After all, there is no denying that donations on a corporate scale can accomplish big things. And, of course, not all corporate donations are made through marketing campaigns. Many are done quietly and without ulterior motives.

So, I would like to salute some great companies in the retail community for their enlightened approach to support those who need it most:

• Walmart for Fighting Hunger Together
• Target for the Give with Target school grant program
• JCPenney for JCP Cares, which supports Boys & Girls Clubs and 4H Clubs
• Macy’s for its support of teen-oriented Do Something
• IKEA for its Save the Children program
• Kohl’s for supporting Feeding America and Toys for Tots
• L.L.Bean for supporting the National Parks Foundation
• Toys 'R Us for supporting Marine Toys for Tots

However, on a personal level, I am a big fan of the Retail Orphan Initiative (Retail ROI) and am trying to help make this year’s Retail ROI Super Saturday Analyst Day a super success. The event takes place on Saturday, January 12, which is the day prior to the opening of the 2013 NRF Big Show in New York City.

So, if you are planning to be at the NRF Big Show this year, or if you need another good reason to go, then consider arriving early and attending the Super Saturday event. If it seems like planning four months ahead is a bit uncertain right now, then that is perfectly understandable. But I still urge you to register for Super Saturday by clicking here. Sponsorships are now being sought and the more retail executives registered the better. So, you can do your part by registering. It only takes seconds and it will help. Also, by registering you have a chance to win a new iPad Mini.

The Super Saturday event takes place in the state-of-the-art PwC Auditorium on 42nd St. from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Last year it featured a stellar agenda of retail experts and raised $300,000. This year the agenda is stronger and the goal higher.

The 2013 list of speakers on the agenda includes:

Deborah Weinswig of Citi Investment Research
Richard Hastings of Global Hunter Securities
Jeff Roster of Gartner
Paula Rosenblum of RSR Research
Vicki Cantrell of NRF
Mike Relich of Guess?
Maura Hart of The Home Depot
Tom Litchford of NRF
And more!

Topics feature up-to-the-minute data about trends in the retail industry focusing on mobile, social media and the convergence of marketing and technology. For a complete list of speakers and more info about Super Saturday click here.

What I like about all Retail ROI events is that retailers attend free and all the money raised from vendor sponsorships goes to help the Retail Orphan Initiative. No marketing campaigns are involved and no ulterior motives. To find out more about Retail ROI click here.