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With the holiday season in full swing, Ayr Wellness hopes to spread cheer with hyperlocal giving.

Through Dec. 31, the multistate operator will donate a portion of proceeds from the sale of Ayr’s flagship cannabis brand, Kynd, to nonprofits selected by the teams at its three dispensaries in New Jersey.

At Ayr’s storefronts in Eatontown (59 Main St.), Woodbridge (950 Route 1) and Union (2536 Route 22), the “Season of Kyndness” effort will benefit:

• Arc of Monmouth, a Tinton Falls-based nonprofit serving those with Down syndrome, autism and other disabilities in Monmouth County.
• City Relief, an Elizabeth-headquartered mobile outreach initiative that connects impoverished and homeless individuals with hot meals, supplies and resources for housing, employment and health care.
• Community FoodBank of New Jersey, the state’s largest anti-hunger and anti-poverty organization
• Minority Cannabis Academy, a workforce development program focused on equipping disenfranchised communities with career skills related to the business and science of cannabis.

Additionally, Ayr – which is one of the biggest players in New Jersey’s cannabis market – plans to triple match every $1 donation made at point of sale by customers and patients, as applicable per state law.

The ‘Season of Kyndness’

Last year, the campaign raised $70,000 for charities and provided 200 boxes of toys for community-based groups across five states. Within New Jersey, it generated more than $6,900 for Arc of Monmouth and City Relief.

Ayr co-Chief Revenue Officer Julie Winter commented, “Season of Kyndness provides a chance for our team and our customers to come together and support incredible organizations making a real difference throughout New Jersey … Though Kynd has a national platform and footprint, the brand remains committed to driving local impact in the communities that it serves, and that is what we are looking to emphasize with this year’s program.”

In connection with the 10th anniversary of its Kynd brand, Ayr also kicked off a year-round charitable initiative. The promotion will give a portion of sales proceeds to food banks, animal rescues and other organizations in states where the MSO has stores on a quarterly basis.

In a statement, Ayr interim CEO Steven Cohen said, “Since its launch in 2014, kynd has made continuous efforts to help support local communities through philanthropic endeavors, and our annual Season of Kyndness event reflects this enduring commitment.”

By expanding the program, Cohen said Ayr will be able to reach new states and increase the number of groups it partners with.

See also:

‘Tis the season of giving for the American Water Charitable Foundation, which recently announced $117,500 in grants to organizations around New Jersey. See the list of recipients here >>