United States-Tyson Foods re-stocking food banks and helping the needy.
UNITED STATES-TYSON FOODS Inc AGAIN HELPING THE NEEDY.
One of the nation’s leading hunger relief organizations reports the U.S. is currently facing a national hunger crisis. According to Feeding America, more than 32 million people are food insecure and, with the troubled economy, the demand at food banks has increased more than 30 percent in the past year.
These are among the reasons hunger relief remains a major priority for Tyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE: TSN). Company officials reported today Tyson donated approximately 12 million pounds of chicken, beef and pork in fiscal 2008 to more than 50 food banks in 27 states across the country.
Tyson has also donated millions of dollars in cash to help various non-profit organizations across the country. For these efforts, Forbes magazine’s most recent listing of America ’s Most Generous Corporations ranked Tyson Foods the second most proportionally generous company. The company gave 1.6% of its operating income, or $8 million.
Tyson Foods was a leader in efforts to supply much-needed food to people in Texas , Iowa and other states hit hard with flooding and hurricanes. Iowa received several truckload donations to 26 communities after the flooding in April. In September, Tyson sent a convoy of 26 semi-trucks carrying 3.2 million meals of chicken, beef and pork to the states of Texas , Iowa , Alabama , Louisiana and Mississippi to restock the local food banks.
Tyson has also worked to raise awareness for hunger relief this year by partnering with national organizations including: Feeding America, Lift Up America, League of United Latin American Citizens, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, National Student Food Drive and professional and collegiate athletic teams. Tyson facilities and team members across the nation also raise funds and awareness for the fight against childhood hunger through a program called Powering the Spirit™.
Tyson honors the local volunteers who bring food directly to families through the Tyson Hunger All-Star Award. The Tyson Hunger All-Star Award was given to eight individuals nominated for their significant impact on hunger relief in their hometown.
"With the donations made this year by Tyson, more than 40 million meals were distributed through food banks and their local agencies," said Ed Nicholson, director of community relations for Tyson Foods. "Despite tough economic times Tyson Foods remains steadfast in its efforts to end hunger in the United States ."
Since 2000, Tyson hunger relief efforts have provided more than 240 million meals to citizens across the country through 54 million pounds of donated protein.
Tyson Foods was a sponsor of this year’s Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI). The company pledged more than 500 pounds of food per mile of the ride to affiliate food banks of Feeding America. Equal to seven truckloads of food totaling 250,000 pounds, the donation powered more than one million meals for Iowans in need.
To help kick-off the 2009 fiscal year, Tyson held a major food donation event in Chicago on December 1, 2008. The company announced the donation of one million pounds of food to Feeding America affiliate food banks. The product was shipped to 24 cities across the U.S.
About 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 and is the recognized market leader in the retail and foodservice markets it serves. Tyson provides products and service to customers throughout the United States and more than 90 countries. The company has approximately 104,000 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. Visit http://hungerrelief.tyson.com for more details about Tyson’s hunger relief efforts..
