MIAMI, July 14, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- Summer can mean more than a school vacation for some Miami families. It can also create an increase in food insecurity. The USDA reported of the more than 16 million children eligible for the National School Lunch Program in 2003, only 12 percent participated in the Summer Food Service Program. Thanks to a 35,000-pound protein donation from Tyson Foods, South Florida families and the more than 295,000 estimated children living in poverty in South Florida will have better access to well-balanced nutrition this season.
The donation comes as part of the 10th Annual Tyson Foods Zo's Summer Groove fundraiser for Alonzo Mourning Charities Inc. Tyson Foods is sponsoring the series of events that began July 13 and will end July 17. Tyson is scheduled to deliver its donation to Miami's Daily Bread Food Bank at about 1:00 p.m. today. Alonzo Mourning is expected to speak at the event.
"The commitment that Tyson Foods has shown to Alonzo Mourning Charities serves as an example of how effective partnerships can be," said Alonzo Mourning, founder of Alonzo Mourning Charities. "Through multiple combined efforts such as Zo's Summer Groove, the donation to the Daily Food Bank and other new initiatives we've ventured into, we are helping to insure positive outcomes in many of the communities we serve."
The Daily Bread Food Bank estimates children make up more than 43 percent of the population it serves. Daily Bread Food Bank executive director Judith Gatti said Tyson's donation comes at a time of year when food bank volumes are lower.
"During the holiday season, so many people are thinking of giving, but in the summer things tend to slow down," Gatti said. "This donation will help get us through."
The food bank serves an estimated 1.5 million pounds of food per month. Daily Bread Food Bank estimates indicate more than 26 percent of Miami-Dade County children live in poverty, and more than 59 percent are eligible for free or reduced lunches at school.
"We're honored to be partnering with Alonzo Mourning Charities, and gratified that we're working together toward addressing childhood hunger in Miami," stated Libby Lawson, Tyson's vice president of media and community relations. "We appreciate the work of Daily Bread Food Bank and all of the agencies it supports, whose mission is to ensure no child should ever go to bed hungry."
About Hunger Relief Nationwide
Tyson has made significant impact in its 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 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.
Tyson Foods' efforts over the past five years have provided more than 29 million pounds of chicken, beef and pork or more than 115 million meals to benefit more than 400 hunger-relief organizations across the U.S. According to the 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 Daily Bread Food Bank at: www.dailybread.org
The Daily Bread Food Bank is a regional food relief organization that serves more than 800 agencies in Broward, Palm Beach, Miami-Dade and Monroe counties. From its family of four distribution centers, the food bank serves more than 1.5 million pounds of food each month. The value of the food Daily Bread distributes annually to its soup kitchens, food pantries, youth programs, day care centers, shelters and other programs is valued at more than $30 million. The Daily Bread Food Bank is the only South Florida affiliate of America's Second Harvest, the nation's largest food bank network. For more information contact the Daily Bread Food Bank at 5850 N.W. 32nd Avenue, Miami, FL, 33412, call 305 633 9861 or visit www.dailybread.org.
Alonzo Mourning Charities Inc. is a non-profit organization that serves at-risk children and families. AMC seeks to improve the quality of life for its constituents through educational and economic opportunities for minority families based on principals of respect for family, education, spirituality, justice and integrity. Some of the causes AMC supports include: 100 Black Men of South Florida, Children's Home Society of Florida and the Overtown Youth Center.
Tyson Foods, Inc., www.tyson.com (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 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" 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 114,000 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.