Chicken of the Sea Executive Named
to Board of Feeding America Food Bank for San Diego
SAN DIEGO – Dec. 12, 2007 –
To help further its mission to feed hungry San Diegans, Feeding America Food Bank (formerly named America's Second Harvest) for San Diego
is bringing on Chicken of the Sea International’s senior vice president of sales and marketing,
John Sawyer, as a new member of its board of directors.
The new food bank, which is part of Feeding America's
national network, is aiming to help feed the estimated 800,000 people
in San Diego County who are suffering from hunger. Supported
by $1.5 million in pledges and a grant from Feeding America Food Bank will also work with supermarkets
and manufacturers, including Chicken of the Sea, to help supply food
and donations.
“The Feeding America Food Bank and Chicken of the Sea share a common goal – to
feed people with nutritious food,” said Sawyer. “In
addition to being involved here in San Diego, Chicken of the Sea
has partnered with Feeding America on a national level.”
The collaboration between Feeding America and Chicken
of the Sea originates from the relief efforts surrounding Hurricane
Katrina, during which Chicken of the Sea made food donations to the
hunger-relief organization. Recently, the companies have embarked
on a new partnership and an accompanying public outreach campaign
dubbed “Twice a Week for Better Health.” Through the
partnership, Chicken of the Sea is not only aiming to put seafood
in the hands of America’s hungry, but also to educate the public
about the health benefits of seafood.
The USDA, American Heart Association, American Medical Association and
American Diabetes Association all tout the health benefits of seafood
and suggest eating it twice a week.
“Our shelf-stable seafood is affordable and convenient
and can help our consumers and the nation’s hungry meet the
recommended nutritional and dietary guidelines,” said Sawyer.
Chicken
of the Sea kick-started the campaign with a financial contribution
and has set an overall goal to raise $100,000. To help reach
that goal, the company is donating a portion of its sales – up
to $30,000 – to Feeding America and its 200
food banks located across the country, and Chicken of the Sea will
donate additional product in times of need. Chicken of the
Sea is also reaching out to its employees and business partners to
conduct food drives, make financial contributions and volunteer at
local food banks.
A seafood category leader, Chicken of the
Sea provides a variety of shelf-stable seafood
products, including tuna, salmon, crab, shrimp,
oysters, clams, mackerel and sardines. The
Chicken of the Sea brand and famous Mermaid icon
are among the most recognized brands in America.
Feeding America — The Nation's
Food Bank Network — is the largest charitable
domestic hunger-relief organization in the United
States. Through its network of
more than 200 member food banks, Feeding America annually provides assistance to
more than 25 million people in need, including
more than 9 million children and nearly 3 million
seniors in all 50 states, the District of Columbia
and Puerto Rico. Each year, Feeding America
secures and distributes more than 2 billion pounds
of food and grocery products to support feeding
programs at approximately 50,000 local charitable
agencies, including food pantries, soup kitchens,
emergency shelters, after-school programs and
Kids Cafes. To learn more, please
visit www.feedingamerica.org.
