Content about Family Relation

NEW YORK — Beauty company Coty and DKMS, the world's largest bone marrow donor center, jointly raised $3.2 million to support the fight against blood cancer during the recently held DKMS 6th Annual Gala: Linked Against Blood Cancer.

The DKMS 6th Annual Gala: Linked Against Blood Cancer was held in late April at Cipriani Wall Street to a sold-out audience. The gala, hosted by Katharina Harf, chief inspiration officer of DKMS Americas, once again broke records of previous years, raising $3.2 million to support the fight against blood cancer.

LAKELAND, Fla. — Publix announced on Tuesday that it promoted Kelly Williams-Puccio to executive director of the Publix Super Markets Charities. In her new position, Williams-Puccio will be responsible for the strategic direction of the charity foundation.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Frederik Meijer, the founder of the supercenter retail chain of the same name, died Nov. 25. He was 91.

A Michigan native, Meijer first entered the grocery business as a bagger in his father's store. By 1962, Meijer opened its first “Thrifty Acres” supercenter in Grand Rapids, a food and general merchandise store that touted one-stop shopping for customers. The chain now operates 197 supercenters and grocery stores throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky. The company also celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2009.

PITTSBURGH — Giant Eagle has named Laura Shapira Karet CEO and John Lucot president and COO. Both appointments are effective Jan. 9, 2012.

Karet, 42, is taking over the position from her father David Shapira, who will assume the position of executive chairman of Giant Eagle's board of directors. Shapira has served as CEO since 1980.

CINCINNATI — Procter & Gamble on Monday announced that NFL quarterback Drew Brees will be the first-ever "VapoDad" representing Vicks VapoRub.

Appearing alongside his son Baylen, Brees will be seen in television and print advertisements for VapoRub this upcoming cold and flu season.

Historically, VapoRub has only featured women as the primary caregiver in its advertisements. With fathers becoming increasingly involved in the upbringing of their children, Vicks felt it was important to feature its first "VapoDad."

NEW YORK — Global information services company Nielsen announced the passing of one of its former executives.

Arthur C. "Art" Nielsen, Jr., 92, helped Nielsen create such innovations as consumer and performance surveys, market share, department and food index and television ratings, during his tenure as chairman and president. Nielsen's father, Arthur C. Nielsen, founded the company in 1923. Nielsen, Jr., joined the company in 1945 and retired in 1983, according to the New York Times.

CINCINNATI — Trips are up, but baskets are down, Kroger reported Friday morning, along with positive second-quarter results. Gas sales also are up with the decline in fuel prices, which is an item Kroger continues to use as a stickiness factor with its loyalty card program.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT’S IMPORTANT — “[Charlie] never wanted the spotlight,” longtime friend and colleague Al Kraus noted in an online post, recalling a conversation with Charlie Bowlus over a drink one night in 1994, at the end of the very first ECRM show. “His first show had maybe 80 people. ... I asked him if he made any money on the show. He said, ‘I don’t know, but a lot of people did business, and it was a hell of a party.’”

CINCINNATI — Kroger on Tuesday promoted Donna Giordano to the role of president of the Ralphs division.

Giordano, 57, has been president of the company's Quality Food Centers division, based in Seattle, since 2002. She succeeds Mike Donnelly, who was recently promoted to SVP merchandising for Kroger.

KINGSTON, Pa. — Rep. Tom Marino, R-Pa., on Monday propositioned a bill that would allow independent drug stores to band together in an effort to increase their collective pharmaceutical buying power.

ALBANY, N.Y. — The School Administrators Association of New York State will present its 2011 Friend of Education Award to Wegmans Food Markets and the Wegman family, the Rochester, N.Y.-based grocer announced Wednesday.

“There are few organizations as dedicated to the future of [their] community and [their] young citizens [as] Wegmans,” stated Don Nickson, deputy executive director of SAANYS. “We are fortunate to have such a company based right here in western New York and are honored to recognize [its] commitment and service.”

ENCINO, Calif. — Larry King is taking on a new role for television viewers who are used to seeing him behind the hosting desk at CNN, as he will serve as the spokesman for BreathGemz, a breath freshener product.

King and his wife, Shawn, will star in a widespread media campaign to nationally launch the product, a minted coated capsule that is ingested by swallowing.

BreathGemz comes to the market from Anthony and Lauren Raissen's Gemz Brands USA. The husband and wife team have successfully launched many national brands.