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Local Team Members Of Tyson Foods, Inc.’s Fundraising Program For Hunger Relief Raise Funds In The Fight Against Childhood Hunger


WEBWIRE

The fight against childhood hunger in the region received a boost today from Tyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE:TSN). Local team members from the company announced a donation of $53,327, which was raised last fall during a company-wide fundraising program for hunger relief called Powering the Spirit(tm). The donation will be shared between the Northeast Iowa Food Bank and the Salvation Army in Waterloo.

In addition, Tyson Foods delivered a bonus truckload -- 30,071 pounds -- of protein to the food bank in honor of the significant funds raised locally. The Waterloo Tyson location is one of four Tyson facilities around the country to earn the truckload of protein for a local food bank because of the local fundraising efforts. In 2006, the company donated more than six million pounds of protein to local food banks around the country. These extra truckload donations were part of the Powering the Spirit campaign. The campaign is an annual fundraising effort by Tyson team members around the country coordinated with the national non-profit organization Share Our Strength, which administers the funds raised.

The Waterloo Tyson team chose the Northeast Iowa Food Bank’s Operation Family Pack program and the Salvation Army’s Family Activity Center to be the beneficiaries of its local fundraising efforts. “Our team members worked very hard to raise these funds for local hunger relief work through the food bank and the Salvation Army,” said Andrea Sherwood, community liaison for Tyson’s Waterloo facilities. “Earning the extra truckload of protein for our food bank is an added bonus for our community, and our team members take great pride in earning that product donation.” During the announcement event, Tyson team members grilled and served lunch for community members.

“This gift will help us continue to help fill hundreds of children’s backpacks as they face a weekend at risk of proper nutrition,” said Barb Prather, executive director of the Northeast Iowa Food Bank. “Both the funds raised and the protein donated will continue to help us as we help the hungry and food insecure in our area.” The Northeast Iowa Food Bank provides emergency food assistance to more than 35,000 Northeast Iowa residents each year, of which an estimated 14,600 are children.

The Tyson Powering the Spirit funds will also support the estimated 65 children attending the Salvation Army’s Family Center after school and summer programs.

“We’re grateful for Tyson’s support as we continue to provide not only an after-school meal for our children, but positive environment for learning and self-esteem,” said Sue Hennings, development director for the Waterloo Salvation Army. The Salvation Army partners with the Northeast Iowa Food Bank to provide a Kid’s Cafe site for the Family Center.

Tyson team members raised money over the past several months through the Powering the Spirit company-wide fundraising competition. In Waterloo, Tyson worked with community members to host a “Tuggin’ for Kids” event, where teams competed in a tug of war competition to raise money for Powering the Spirit. Waterloo team members also raised funds by selling and delivering more than 600 sack lunches to area businesses.



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