Newman’s Own Inc has announced the distribution of more than 100,000 Newman’s Own Thin & Crispy Crust frozen pizzas to the Feeding America network of food banks. The pizzas will feed more than 300,000 food bank clients.
The pizza donation was possible through the alliance between Newman’s Own and Feeding America. Newman’s Own and Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger relief agency, have collaborated since 2000 on the Partnership for Hunger Relief, a program that has to date donated 89 refrigerated Ford trucks to 42 states and delivered the equivalent of more than 98 million meals.
The US Department of Agriculture’s 2009 report of food insecurity released recently indicated the number of individuals who were food-insecure in 2008 increased 36% over 2007; the data for children reflected a 35% increase. This is the largest increase in food insecurity ever reported by the USDA. A reported 49.1 million Americans, including one in five children, lived in households considered to be food-insecure, according to the study.
Feeding America’s Hunger in America 2006 study reported that 41.5% of their clients have had to choose between paying for food and paying for utilities. Additionally, a recent Feeding America research study indicated some food banks are reporting increases of more than 50% in requests for emergency food assistance over a year prior.
Westport CT-based Newman’s Own, founded by Paul Newman and his friend A E Hotchner in 1982, has a charitable mission expressed in the company motto: “Shameless exploitation in pursuit of the common good.” Newman’s Own Foundation continues Paul Newman’s commitment to donate all profits to charity. More than $280 million has been given to thousands of charities since 1982.
Visit www.newmansown.com for more information.
