America's Second Harvest and Philip Morris Respond to Worsening Hunger Need in Nation by Expanding Emergency Food Assistance Program

Contact:
Carol Gifford (America's Second Harvest), 312/263-2303, x159
Laurie Guzzinati (Philip Morris Companies), 917/663-2144

$1 Million Grant from Philip Morris to Help Hunger-Relief Organizations Across the Country Recover from 9-11 and Economic Downturn

Chicago, IL -- June 4, 2002 -- Over the past eight months since the terrorist attacks of September 11, food banks and food rescue organizations across the nation have struggled to keep up with an increased need for emergency food assistance. At the same time, they have seen a dramatic drop in financial and in-kind contributions, forcing many to consider cutting back on core programs that bring food to the tables of people in need.

To help meet this growing demand for emergency food assistance, America's Second Harvest (A2H) recently received $1 million from one of its strongest partners, Philip Morris Companies Inc. A leading supporter of hunger-relief causes, Philip Morris awarded this emergency grant to help stabilize the A2H network of food bank and food rescue affiliates during the economic recession and in the aftermath of the tragedies of September 11. With this new funding, A2H will help its network of 215 food banks and food rescue organizations purchase and distribute an additional 350 to 400 million pounds of food which they anticipate they will need this year.

"The events of September 11 - along with the economic downturn that those events accelerated so dramatically - have created an emergency situation for America's Second Harvest, for our network of food bank and food rescue affiliates, and most critically for people in need of emergency food assistance," said Robert Forney, president and CEO of America's Second Harvest.

In a recent survey of needs, more than 80 percent of A2H affiliates reported that current demand for food is significantly greater than this time last year, and 27 percent said their regular donors have told them donations would be cut back due to 9-11 or the economy in general. Nine percent of A2H affiliates said they have already had to cut core programs and services because of a shortfall in food and other resources.

"We are grateful to Philip Morris for its leadership and unfailing support for the America's Second Harvest network and other hunger-relief organizations," Forney said. "With extraordinary partners like Philip Morris, we are confident that we can create a hunger-free America."

In addition to the Philip Morris funding, a contribution of $10 million over 5 years was made by the Starr Foundation to stabilize A2H's charitable food distribution system.

Beginning this fall, A2H will award at least $1 million in grants that provide emergency economic assistance to its network of hunger-relief organizations in communities nationwide. A2H will launch the new grantmaking initiative shortly and begin accepting applications for funding this summer.

"At Philip Morris, we are dedicated to doing our part to help solve complex issues facing our communities, and no problem is more fundamental to human dignity than hunger," said Jennifer Goodale, director of corporate contributions for Philip Morris Management Corp. "We are proud to stand shoulder to shoulder in this important battle with highly effective partners like America's Second Harvest to help make hunger a thing of the past."

The Philip Morris Fight Against Hunger is a comprehensive effort by the Philip Morris family of companies that provides financial and in-kind support to hunger-relief agencies that make a meaningful difference in the lives of needy individuals and families. The campaign includes donations of packaged food and money to help food banks serve the nation's hungry, Meals on Wheels organizations across the nation that feed the homebound elderly, programs that provide job-training assistance to homeless adults and working poor, as well as nutritious meals for people living with HIV/AIDS.

The company also supports crisis shelters that feed, counsel and comfort victims of domestic violence. The Philip Morris family of companies has supported A2H for more than two decades, and has provided approximately $11 million in financial assistance to A2H and its affiliates since 1999 alone.

The Philip Morris family of companies is the world's largest manufacturer and marketer of consumer packaged goods. The principal operating companies of Philip Morris Companies Inc. include Kraft Foods Inc., Miller Brewing Company, Philip Morris International Inc. and Philip Morris U.S.A. For more than four decades, the Philip Morris companies have supported programs and charitable organizations nationwide and have provided philanthropic assistance to communities around the world.

Since 1990 alone, Philip Morris has donated more than $1 billion to charitable organizations worldwide and more than $410 million to hunger relief. For more information about the company's programs and philanthropy, visit www.philipmorris.com/media.