AMERICA'S SECOND HARVEST-THE NATION'S FOOD BANK NETWORK RECOGNIZES TWELVE DONORS FOR THEIR HUNGER-RELIEF EFFORTS

CHICAGO --- October 9, 2007 --- America's Second Harvest — The Nation's Food Bank Network has honored twelve donors for contributing to the organization's mission to end hunger in America.

The recipients of the 2007 Hunger's Hope Awards are: Procter & Gamble, The Pampered Chef, Ltd., ConAgra Foods, The Kroger Co., Farm Fresh Food & Pharmacy, Tyson Foods, Inc., Kraft Foods Inc., Greatwide Logistics, Cargo-Master, Inc., American Farm Bureau Federation/Young Farmers and Ranchers and Country Music Television, Inc and the Kellogg Company.  

Procter & Gamble stores was honored with the 2007 "Donor of the Year" award for the exceptional donation value of their product line, as many of their products cannot be acquired with food stamps.  Last year alone, over 18 million people in need received Procter & Gamble product through the America’s Second Harvest network, reaching 150 member food banks in 44 states.

The Pampered Chef, Ltd. was honored with the 2007 "Sponsor of the Year" award for its “Round-Up from the Heart” campaign, which raised significant funds for the America’s Second Harvest network. By selling a record number of heart-shaped trivets and encouraging each and every one of its Cooking Show guests to "round-up" their orders to a whole dollar amount, The Pampered Chef has helped America’s Second Harvest feed people across the country. Since the campaign’s inception in 1991, the “Round-Up from the Heart” has raised more than $12 million dollars.

ConAgra Foods was honored with the 2007 “Grantmaker of the Year” award for its Feeding Children Better Foundation, the nation’s largest corporate initiative dedicated solely to fighting child hunger. ConAgra has been a committed partner since 1999, providing more than $20 million dollars to the America’s Second Harvest network and 145 million pounds of food. Through Feeding Children Better, the foundation has funded the startup of more than 250 new Kids Cafes, and supported technology and transportation programs, including the purchase of 167 trucks for food banks.

The Kroger Company was honored with the 2007 “Retailer of the Year” award for donating more than 25 million pounds of product annually, with a donation last year of over 30 million pounds to the America’s Second Harvest network. Kroger’s "Bringing Hope to the Table" promotion, an in-store partnership between key suppliers and customers, has raised more than $6 million dollars in the last two years, providing more than 85 network members with direct cash contributions.

Farm Fresh Food & Pharmacy was honored with the 2007 “Regional Retailer of the Year” award for contributing grocery products to member food banks in its service region for local distribution. Over the past four years, Farm Fresh Food & Pharmacy has donated approximately 957,735 pounds of food, and since 1996 has contributed a total of $443,232.52.

Tyson Foods, Inc. was honored with the 2007 "Protein Donor of the Year" award for its donation last year of over four million pounds of poultry and meat products to the America’s Second Harvest network. Tyson’s support also includes: workshop presentations at the America’ Second Harvest annual Food Conference; engagement of their employee associates at local food bank events; introduction of America’s Second Harvest as a partner in Tyson’s support of LULAC and ending hunger in the Hispanic and Latino communities, support of Hunger Awareness Day, and recent disaster support for member food banks affected by flooding in the Midwest.

Kraft Foods, Inc. was honored with the 2007 “Seafood Program Donor of the Year” award for partnering with America’s Second Harvest and SeaShare for the past 8 years to increase seafood donations to network food banks across the country. Since 2001, Kraft Foods has issued 30 seafood grants, totaling over $1 million dollars to 20 network member food banks. With Kraft Foods’ support, America’s Second Harvest has distributed over 13 million pounds of protein-rich seafood since 2001. Kraft Foods’ leadership and support have led to the development of new product types, developed specifically for America’s Second Harvest.

Greatwide Logistics and Cargo-Master, Inc., leaders in the transportation industry, were honored with 2007 “Logistics Partner of the Year” award for their superior transportation and logistics services, financial contributions and employee involvement in hunger relief. Greatwide Logistics and Cargo-Master, Inc. have provided support as both a long-standing transportation partner and as a donor to the America’s Second Harvest network.

The American Farm Bureau Federation and the Young Farmer and Rancher group were honored with the 2007 “Trade Organization of the Year” award for their contributions to the “Harvest for All” program. “Harvest for All” is a partnership between America’s Second Harvest and the American Farm Bureau Federation that directly benefits America’s Second Harvest network members every year.  Since it was launched on Hunger Awareness Day in June of 2003, this program has contributed the equivalent of over 10 million meals, including 4.5 million pounds of donated food, $489,000 dollars raised and over 20,000 combined volunteer hours.

Country Music Television, Inc. was honored with the 2007 “Media Partner of the Year” award for its partnership with America’s Second Harvest through its "One Country" campaign. In 2007, Hunger Awareness Day received unprecedented visibility, thanks largely in part to contributions from CMT.  Committed to inspire one million more volunteers, the CMT One Country campaign directed people to their local food bank to help feed people right in their own community. 

The Kellogg Company was honored with the “Group Volunteer Service of the Year” award, nominated by the Food Bank of South Central Michigan, for its outstanding hunger-relief efforts throughout the community. Kellogg’s service has provided thousands of volunteer hours for the food bank. In the past 5 years, 1,279 Kellogg volunteers have contributed 3,280 hours to the food bank during its “Days of Caring.” The greatest accomplishment of Kellogg’s hunger-relief efforts comes from its service with the food bank’s “Fresh Foods Initiative.”  In 2006, Kellogg Fresh Food Initiative volunteers distributed more than 200,000 pounds of product to 13,263 families.

"We cannot express enough how grateful we are for the endless support these donors have provided to our network," said Vicki Escarra, president and CEO of America’s Second Harvest. "These donors have truly been instrumental in the fight to end hunger in America."

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Contact:
Ross Fraser
Media Relations Manager
312.641.6422