2007 2006 2005 2004 Archive

The Dannon Company and America's Second Harvest Announce the Search for Families Feeding America™

Dannon Honors its 60 Year Anniversary By Recognizing Outstanding Families Who Contribute To Hunger-Relief Efforts

June 5, 2002

TARRYTOWN, NY

The Dannon Company announced today that in honor of its 60th anniversary, it has joined with America's Second Harvest to recognize Americans who are helping to alleviate the nation's hunger problem through its search for Families Feeding America™. According to a major study conducted by America's Second Harvest, the nation's largest organization of emergency food providers, more than 33 million people in the United States - including nearly 13 million children - lived in households deemed "food insecure," hungry, or at risk of hunger in 2000. Additionally, downturns in the economy and massive lay-offs are contributing to a significant increase in these numbers. In response to these findings, Dannon will recognize and reward five families who have made it their duty to help end hunger in this country and the hunger-relief organization with which they volunteer. A donation in the amount of $10,000 will be made to the Grand Prize winner's charity and the winning family will receive $1,000 in free groceries from their local supermarket. Four runners-ups' charities will receive a donation of $1,000 and the families will win $1,000 in free groceries each. "This year, Dannon is celebrating 60 years of providing wholesome nutrition to Americans," said Thomas Kunz, President and CEO for The Dannon Company. "Through the Families Feeding America program, we're responding to America's Second Harvest's Call to Action by recognizing those who have committed their time and energy to helping others." Dannon is inviting families to submit a 500-word essay describing their work with a hunger-relief organization. All entries will be reviewed and judged on the basis of charitable value, ingenuity and motivational value of the hunger-relief work. How to Enter Entries must include name, mailing address, phone number, selected hunger-relief organization and a 500-word essay. The essay should answer the following questions: Describe the volunteer(s)' (either you/your family or the person whom you are nominating) work with a hunger-relief organization. How did the volunteer (s) get involved with the organization; what encouraged the volunteer(s) to dedicate efforts to help end hunger? How long has the volunteer(s) been working with the organization; on average, how many hours does the volunteer(s) volunteer each month? How has the volunteer(s)' involvement made a difference in his/her/their life; his/her/their family's life; his/her/their community? What one piece of advice/encouragement would you and/or the volunteer you are nominating give to someone who might want to join the fight against hunger? How do you think hunger affects children specifically, and what can be done about it? Entries can be submitted on the Dannon Web site at www.dannon.com or mailed to: The Dannon Search for Families Feeding America, The Dannon Company, 120 White Plains Road, Tarrytown, NY, 10591. All entries must be postmarked by August 31, 2002, and must reach Dannon no later than noon ET on September 7, 2002. Winners will be announced in October, 2002. For more information about the "Families Feeding America" program, or to obtain an entry form, go to www.dannon.com. To learn more about how you help make a difference in your local community, visit America's Second Harvest at www.secondharvest.org. The Dannon Company, Inc., is a leading national producer of yogurt products in the United States with corporate headquarters in Tarrytown, NY, and plants in Minster, OH; Fort Worth, TX; and West Jordan, UT. With a strong commitment to high-quality, wholesome, nutritious and innovative products, Dannon produces about six million cups of yogurt each day in nearly 100 flavors, styles and sizes. For more information about Dannon, visit our Web site at www.dannon.com. America's Second Harvest is the nation's largest domestic hunger-relief organization with a national network of more than 200 regional food banks and food-rescue programs, serving all 50 states and Puerto Rico. It distributes 1.4 billion pounds of donated food and grocery products annually. America's Second Harvest's network supports approximately 50,000 local charitable agencies, operating more than 94,000 food programs, including food pantries, soup kitchens, women's shelters, Kids Cafes, Community Kitchens. These local organizations provide emergency food assistance to 23 million hungry Americans, including more than nine million children and almost three million seniors each year. Entries due August 31, 2002. No purchase necessary. Open to all US residents. See www.dannon.com or call 1-800-DANNONUS for complete rules.