BARRE, Vt., March 21, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Tyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE:TSN) teamed up with Olympic ski star Hannah Kearney today at the Vermont Foodbank, a member of America's Second Harvest, to deliver a 30,000-pound donation of much needed protein. Assisting Kearney and Tyson for the donation were fellow Vermonter and two-time Olympian Evan Dybvig and 2002 Olympian and current U.S. team coach Brian Currutt. The donation will supply enough meat for 120,000 meals.
The donation is part of Tyson's ongoing commitment to hunger relief and national sponsorship of America's Second Harvest(r) -- The Nation's Food Bank Network. Since 2000, Tyson has donated more than 41 million pounds of protein to more than 400 hunger relief organizations nationwide. Tyson is also a sponsor of the U.S. Olympic Committee, providing chicken, beef and pork to the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO.
"Because protein products are among the most frequently requested items by the Vermont Foodbank's Network Partners, Tyson's donation is greatly appreciated," said Christine Foster, co-interim CEO of the Vermont Foodbank. "The thousands of Vermonters who receive assistance from the Foodbank will benefit from this donation both nutritionally and because it will enhance their menu selection."
The need for hunger relief is significant. America's Second Harvest "Hunger in America 2006" study found an estimated 35 percent of local families had to make the choice between food and utilities year-round, and about 27 percent had to choose between food and health care services. The Vermont Foodbank serves 270 member non-profit agencies throughout the state. Those agencies assist 140,000 Vermonters each year.
Foster said children make up more than 30 percent of the population served through the Vermont Foodbank, and a donation of meat products is particularly significant. "Demand for food is always high," she said. "Protein or meat-related donations are highly sought after. A donation of this size will significantly impact thousands of Vermonters."
Protein is one of the most efficient and long lasting sources of energy. The chicken donated today is one of the most concentrated sources of protein-an essential nutrient of life. The average person-man, woman or child-needs to eat about 0.4 grams of protein for every pound of body weight, every day. This is approximately equivalent to five ounces of chicken, beef or pork.
In June 2006, Tyson facilities nationwide kicked off a new program to raise funds and awareness for the fight against childhood hunger. The program is called Powering the Spirit(tm) and involves three key components: local fund-raising through cooking and grilling events, sales of a specially produced Tyson cookbook featuring recipes from the kitchens of Tyson team members nationwide and donation of seventy-five percent of the proceeds of those fundraising efforts to the community where the money is raised.
About Hunger Relief Nationwide
Tyson has made significant impact in their fight against hunger nationwide through a partnership with Share Our Strength(r), and America's Second Harvest-The Nation's Food Bank Network. Share Our Strength is a nonprofit organization that inspires and organizes individuals and businesses to share their strengths in innovative ways to help end childhood hunger in America. America's Second Harvest is the largest charitable domestic hunger-relief organization in the country with more than 200 food banks in its network.
Since Tyson's partnership with hunger relief organizations began in 2000, the company has provided more than 41 million pounds of chicken, beef and pork -- supplying more than 150 million meals with essential protein -- to benefit more than 400 hunger-relief organizations across the U.S. Tyson has made a significant impact leading the fight against hunger through its ongoing partnerships with America's Second Harvest, Share Our Strength, Lift Up America and others.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau's Current Population Survey released in August 2005 which studied conditions in 2004, the poverty rate in America rose by 4 percent to 35.9 million people, one-third of which are children. Generally it is estimated that about 15 percent of a family income goes toward food, but many times parents are forced to make the choice of either paying the rent or providing the next meal for their family.
For more information on how to get involved in the fight against hunger, contact the Vermont Foodbank at 33 Parker Road, Barre, VT or visit www.vtfoodbank.org or www.tyson.com, www.secondharvest.org or www.strength.org.
The Vermont Foodbank is Vermont's only food bank, and serves a network of 270 partners, consisting of food shelves, food pantries, senior centers, shelters and after-school programs, that assist 140,000 Vermonters each year. In 2006, the Vermont Foodbank distributed 6.4 million pounds of food to its Network Partners around the state. Started in 1986, the Vermont Foodbank is a member of America's Second Harvest -- The Nation's Food Bank Network (A2HN), the country's largest charitable hunger-relief organization. For additional information about the Vermont Foodbank or to donate, please visit www.vtfoodbank.org. To volunteer, contact Patrick Gilbert at 802-476-3341, x127.
America's Second Harvest(r) -- The Nation's Food Bank Network is the largest charitable domestic hunger-relief organization in the country with a Network of more than 200 Member food banks and food -- rescue programs serving all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
The America's Second Harvest Network secures and distributes more than 2 billion pounds of donated food and grocery products annually; and supports approximately 50,000 local charitable agencies operating more than 94,000 programs including food pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, after-school programs, and Kids Cafes. Last year, the America's Second Harvest Network provided food assistance to more than 23 million low-income hungry people in the United States, including more than 9 million children and nearly 3 million seniors. For more on America's Second Harvest, please visit www.secondharvest.org
The U.S. Ski Team, governed by the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association, the national governing body of Olympic skiing and snowboarding, fields and maintains teams of world-class athletes for competition including the Olympic Games. USSA's manages nationwide programs in six different Olympic sports -- alpine, cross country, freestyle, ski jumping, nordic combined, and snowboarding, as well as two Paralympic sports -- alpine and cross country. Follow the Team www.usskiteam.com.
Tyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE:TSN), founded in 1935 with headquarters in Springdale, Arkansas, is the world's largest processor and marketer of chicken, beef, and pork, the second-largest food production company in the Fortune 500 and a member of the S&P 500. The company produces a wide variety of protein-based and prepared food products, which are marketed under the "Powered by Tyson(tm)" strategy. Tyson is the recognized market leader in the retail and foodservice markets it serves, providing products and service to customers throughout the United States and more than 80 countries. The company has approximately 107,000 Team Members employed at more than 300 facilities and offices in the United States and around the world. Through its Core Values, Code of Conduct and Team Member Bill of Rights, Tyson strives to operate with integrity and trust and is committed to creating value for its shareholders, customers and Team Members. The company also strives to be faith-friendly, provide a safe work environment and serve as stewards of the animals, land and environment entrusted to it.
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