Ford Motor Company And Newman's Own® 'Partnership For Hunger
Relief' Donates Refrigerated Truck Fleet
DETROIT, Nov. 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- For the 12th
consecutive year, Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) and Newman's
Own®, Inc. are partnering with Feeding America, the
nation's largest domestic hunger-relief organization, to donate
Ford refrigerated trucks filled with Newman's Own food products.
Food banks in four regions are receiving trucks this year including
Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan.
With this year's donation of four Ford F-550 trucks, a total of
107 Ford trucks and vans have been donated to Feeding America food
banks to help deliver nutritious perishable foods.
"While there are encouraging signs that we are coming back from
the tough economic times of the past several years, many families
still are struggling," said Bill
Ford, executive chairman, Ford Motor Company. "This
partnership is important because it not only provides food to
families in need, it also contributes to building stronger
communities and a better world."
The partnership between the two companies began 12 years ago
when Paul Newman reached out to see
how Ford Motor Company could join with Newman's Own to address the
critical need for fresh and nutritious food for families facing
hunger. Since then Feeding America has been able to deliver more
than 209 million meals to families across the country.
"Meeting the needs of those who don't have access to perishable
foods was important to Paul Newman
at the beginning of the program, and now, with an increased
nationwide need, it's become even more critical," said Tom Indoe, president and chief operating officer
of Newman's Own. "Newman's Own is proud to be part of this
partnership."
The refrigerated trucks allow for delivery of perishable food to
hard-to-reach communities that often are underserved, as well as
urban and suburban areas where there is an urgent need for
nutritious food. Besides Gleaners, other food banks receiving
trucks this fall are Feeding America San Diego, Feeding South
Florida in Miami and Los Angeles
Regional Food Bank.
"Some of the largest increases in food need are in suburban
Detroit communities, many of which
lack a strong network of emergency food providers," says
W. DeWayne Wells, president of
Gleaners. "We're grateful to Ford and Newman's Own for this
donation, and for continuing to strengthen the emergency food
network here and across the country."
"We have seen a dramatic rise in the number of people raising
their hands seeking food assistance from the Feeding America
network. Today, we are feeding 37 million people each year – that's
an increase of 1 million people from four years ago," said
Matt Knott, interim president and
CEO of Feeding America. "Ford Motor Company and Newman's Own have
been longtime, generous supporters of our mission. We continue to
build partnerships like this to help our food banks provide more
donated food to help feed more people in need."
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader
based in Dearborn, Mich.,
manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With
about 172,000 employees and 65 plants worldwide, the company's
automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial
services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information
regarding Ford and its products worldwide, please visit
http://corporate.ford.com.
Newman's Own®, Inc., founded by
Paul Newman in 1982, offers more
than 100 varieties of great-tasting, all-natural food and beverage
products, including salad dressings, pasta sauces, salsa, thin
& crispy frozen pizzas, frozen skillet meals, microwave popcorn
and refrigerated lemonades. Newman's Own Foundation continues
Paul Newman's commitment to donate
all profits to charity. More than $350
million has been given to thousands of charities since 1982.
For more information, visit www.newmansown.com.
Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan, founded in 1977, is
one of the oldest and largest food banks in the country. Today it
distributes more than 46 million pounds of emergency food annually,
equivalent to 100,000 meals per day. Headquartered in Detroit, Gleaners operates a total of five
distribution centers in Wayne,
Oakland, Macomb, Livingston and Monroe counties, which provide food to over
600 partner soup kitchens, food pantries, shelters and other
agencies throughout southeastern Michigan. Of every dollar donated, Gleaners
uses 94 cents for food and food
programs. One dollar provides three
meals for a hungry neighbor. Learn more at www.gcfb.org.
Feeding America provides low-income individuals and
families with the fuel to survive and even thrive. As the nation's
leading domestic hunger-relief charity, our network members supply
food to more than 37 million Americans each year, including 14
million children and 3 million seniors. Serving the entire
United States, more than 200
member food banks support 61,000 agencies that address hunger in
all of its forms. For more information on how you can fight hunger
in your community and across the country, visit
www.feedingamerica.org. Find us on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/FeedingAmerica or follow our news on Twitter at
www.twitter.com/FeedingAmerica
SOURCE Ford Motor Company