Mr. George built our company on a set of values that make Publix special to associates, and our customers and communities.

His philosophies fall into six lessons that can be summarized in one sentence: Do the right thing. Mr. George felt nothing was worth getting in the way of this commitment, and his lessons continue to guide us today as the foundation of our Publix culture.

In celebration of our 90th anniversary, we’ve covered Mr. George’s lessons over the last several months. In June, we talked about how our relationships with our customers, suppliers and co-workers help us Invest in Others. In July, Prepare for Opportunity reflected on Mr. George’s belief in self-development. Last month, we touched on how Mr. George continually looked for ways to make the shopping experience more pleasurable for our customers.

One lesson we haven’t covered yet focuses on Mr. George’s mission to Give Back. He believed for any organization to be truly successful, it must give back, and he set the example by donating his time, talent and money. Giving back was not an expense in his mind. He believed helping the communities in which Publix operated was an investment, a responsibility and a privilege.

When Mr. George opened his first store, he committed to be involved in every part of the business — to Be There. He vowed that if his business ever became a big success, he would be actively involved in the day-to-day operations, his employees and his customers. As the company grew, he remained committed to being there. He routinely visited stores and support facilities, went to store openings and attended service award events. He set the example of connecting, listening, learning and being there.

The last of Mr. George’s lessons is Respect the Dignity of the Individual. Mr. George said, “If you want people to respect you or your company, you must first show respect for them.” He created an environment of respect and paved the way for our philosophy of providing a workplace where everyone feels welcome. This is one reason we’ve been able to continue growing in the competitive grocery industry and why we’ve been rated one of the Best Companies to Work For in America by Fortune for 23 consecutive years.