Roanoke-based microscope retailer Microscope.com has been awarded the 2013 TopTenREVIEWS Gold Award for Best Online Microscope Retailer. This is the fifth consecutive year Microscope.com has earned this recognition. Microscope.com’s customer service, selection and helpful website features helped earn the award.

Here is the press release from Microscope.com.

Microscope.com, is pleased to announce that they have been awarded the 2013 TopTenREVIEWS Gold Award for Best Online Microscope Retailer for the fifth consecutive year.

The store achieved a perfect 10 rating across five key criteria of Inventory, Site Features, Support & Shipping and Value and ranked ahead of Amazon which can hardly be viewed as a microscope retailer. The company carries inventory of their house brand of microscope, Omano, as well as brands such as Dino-Lite, Motic, Meiji Techno and National Optical. Most orders are shipped the same day. Read more »

Re-Bath LLC has given two awards to Re-Bath of  Southwest Virginia. The bathroom remodeling company received the 2010 Sales Leader of the Year for medium markets and a 2012 regional Market Penetration award last month during the company reunion in Arizona.

Here is the press release from Re-Bath.

Re-Bath® of Southwest Virginia, a Roanoke, Va. company, won two national awards from Re-Bath, LLC, America’s largest bathroom remodeling franchisor, during Re-Bath® Reunion, Jan. 14 in Glendale, Ariz. Read more »

Paula Bolte, aka “The ToyLady,” owns Imaginations Toy & Furniture Co., which sells kid’s toys and furniture. The store will celebrate its 16th anniversary in March. Photo by Mike Shaw | The Burgs.

Correction: An earlier version of this post incorrectly named the store. The text and headline reflect the correct name of the business.

Paula Bolte, owner of Imaginations Toy & Furniture Co. in Blacksburg has been selling toys and kid’s furniture for almost 16 years. Bolte cites focusing on a child’s imagination, having a great staff and  the support of loyal customers  for the success of the shop located on south Main Street.

Our Mike Shaw asked Bolte a few questions on why she enjoys running Imaginations Toy & Furniture Co., giving back to the community and more.

The Q&A can be found here.

Pictured left to right: John Shoulders, Senior Vice President of Business Affairs, Feeding America Southwest Virginia; Robert Harris, Store Manager, Food Lion; Rob Ward, District Manager, Food Lion; and Kitty Tabor, Food Resourcing Manager, Feeding America Southwest Virginia

A check for $10,000 was donated to Feeding America Southwest Virginia by the Food Lion Charitable Foundation. The donation will provide more than 43,000 meals for people living in southwest Virginia.

Here is the press release from Food Lion.

SALEM, VA- Feeding America Southwest Virginia received a $10,000 donation from the Food Lion Charitable Foundation. The check presentation was made by Food Lion district manager, Rob Ward and store manager, Robert Harris. Read more »

Three houses in Roanoke and one in Salem built by Habitat for Humanity were dedicated last week. Dedicated houses were built in the Mountain View and Old Southwest neighborhood. One Roanoke house was built with the help of Advance Auto Parts employees. Advance also provided financial assistance to this project. The other two Roanoke houses were sponsored by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. The house in Salem was an anonymously donated rehab.

Here is the press release from Habitat for Humanity.

ROANOKE, VA, 12/10/12 – During one busy week and just in time for Christmas, Habitat will dedicate three of the thirteen houses for the Mountain View/Old Southwest neighborhood in Roanoke and our first house in Salem, an anonymously donated rehab. Habitat built ten houses in 2012. Read more »

Kohl’s Department Store has made a donation to Carilion Clinic Children’s Hospital. Through the Kohl’s Cares, CCCH received $36,252 to support the Kohl’s Infant Safe Sleep program. This program educates families and caregivers  on proper safe sleep and proper safe sleep environments for infants. Funds came from money collected at Kohl’s Roanoke and Lynchburg stores.

Here is the press release from Carilion Clinic.

ROANOKE, Va. (Oct. 17, 2011) – Kohl’s Department Store, through the Kohl’s Cares® cause merchandise program, has donated $36,252 to Carilion Clinic Children’s Hospital (CCCH). The donations were collected from Kohl’s stores located in Roanoke and Lynchburg. Read more »

Lowe’s will support Rebuilding Together – Roanoke in providing low-income homeowners with weatherization and energy efficient upgrades. New windows, doors, insulation, caulking, energy efficient furnaces and heaters will be offered as part of the home weatherization. RTR will receive $8,000 to help pay for upgrades in two Roanoke Valley homes: the home of a Roanoke City police officer who has a daughter with cerebral palsy; and a Roanoke homeowner who has cerebral palsy.

Here is the press release from Rebuilding Together – Roanoke.

[Rebuilding Together- Roanoke, VA]. – Lowes, a President’s Circle Sponsor of Rebuilding Together, is kicking-off home rehabilitation projects nationwide this fall to address critical home needs during cold weather months.  Since 2007, The Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation has been an active partner of Rebuilding Together and supports the organization’s work across the country. Read more »

Advance Auto Parts and its vendor partners raised money for charities at its recent inaugural Pro-Am tournament. AAP and partners raised $2 million in funds donated to JDRF, the American Cancer Society, Boys & Girls Clubs of American and Building Homes for Heroes.

Each team was made up of celebrities from the PGA Tour and entertainment industry. Each team represented a charity and competed for a share of the $2 million in proceeds raised from the tournament. The American Cancer Society was awarded a first place prize of $650,000. The Boys and Girls Clubs and Building Homes tied and each received $475,000. JDRF placed fourth and received $400,000. Advance Auto Parts is headquartered in Roanoke.

Here is the press release from Advance Auto Parts.

ROANOKE, Va.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Advance Auto Parts (NYSE: AAP), a leading retailer of automotive aftermarket parts, accessories, batteries, and maintenance items, announced today that the Company and its vendor partners, raised $2 million for four charities at its recent inaugural charity Pro-Am tournament. Proceeds from the Pro-Am benefited JDRF, the American Cancer Society, Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Building Homes for Heroes. Celebrity teams from the PGA Tour and entertainment industry golfed with vendor sponsors, with each team representing one of the charities and competing for a share of the $2 million purse. Read more »

Food Lion has launched a fundraiser to benefit the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. Customers can purchase a $1 football balloon at Food Lion stores to support the hospitals. The campaign started today and will run until Sept. 18. Food Lion’s goal is to raise $5 million.

Here is the press release from Food Lion.

SALISBURY, N.C. – Starting today through Sept. 18, customers can make a tremendous difference in the lives of children and their families by purchasing $1 football balloons at their local Food Lion stores to support Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals®.

To participate, customers may donate $1 at the register, in exchange for signing their name on a football balloon. The company hopes to raise an additional $1.2 million for children who receive care at 32 regional Children’s Hospitals. Read more »

Advance Auto Parts will be presenting at the 2012 Goldman Sachs Global Retailing Conference on Sept. 6. The event takes place in New York City. A live broadcast of the presentation will be offered on the AAP website, www.advanceautoparts.com.

Here is the press release from Advance Auto Parts

ROANOKE, Va. (August 30, 2012) – Advance Auto Parts (NYSE: AAP), a leading retailer of automotive aftermarket parts, accessories, batteries, and maintenance items, will be presenting at the 2012 Goldman Sachs Global Retailing Conference in New York City, on Thursday, September 6, 2012 at 9:45 a.m., Eastern Daylight Time. A live broadcast of the presentation will be available online in the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at www.advanceautoparts.com. Please click on the webcast link to register prior to the event.  A replay will be available at www.advanceautoparts.com for thirty days.