Art Molay

 

Ed Nicholson
 
Why should anyone pay any attention to this photo? Isn't it just another "PR" event?
Community leaders, elected officials, corporate leaders, food bank leaders. 
Talking to media (and each other) about why the issue of hunger needs to be addressed.
 

I submit that the single biggest challenge those passionate about hunger face is getting other people engaged.

When you get important people out talking about hunger, other important people listen. And perhaps they get involved.

The backstory
At Tyson, a key component of our hunger strategy is to bring as many of our stakeholders as possible into the issue of hunger.  Each year, we sponsor Fall Football Classics with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU).  These are tremendous events, involving phenomenally influential people in the communities in which they occur (see below).  For the past five years, we've done food donation events in conjunction with this sponsorship, to which we've invited key Classic participants.  They've readily and eagerly participated.  This one's in Memphis--see details below.  If we can get these folks engaged in hunger in their communities, the impact will be so much more than the truckload of food we donate.

Do you have strategies to engage your stakeholders?  We'd love to hear about them.  Please comment.

The Photo
Tyson Foods donates 35K lbs of food to the Memphis Mid-South Food Bank in honor of the Southern Heritage Classic.
l. to r.
Susan Sanford, Executive Director, Mid-South Food Bank
(speaking) Fred Jones – Founder and Producer of the Southern Heritage Classic
Gwendolyn J. Tucker – Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, Mid-South Food Bank
Libby Lawson – Vice-President of Media & Community Relations, Tyson Foods, Inc.
Chairman Harold B. Collins – Chairman and Councilman, District 3 on the Memphis City Council
Myron Lowery – Mayor Pro Tem for the City of Memphis
 

 

A Tyson/LULAC donation in San Antonio

By Ed Nicholson     

For the next few days, northwest Arkansas will be hosting the national board of directors of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) for their quarterly meeting.  They'll spend some of their time at Tyson headquarters tomorrow, part  of which will be devoted to a truckload food donation to the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank.

Tyson and LULAC have had a partnership with Feeding America (formerly named America's Second Harvest) for two years, in which food donations are made to Feeding America food banks that serve Hispanic communities. 

For many people, their idea of "food bank" is where a hungry person goes to get a meal.  Those in hunger relief know that's not how the system works.  True food banks typically serve as distribution warehouses for a network that more than often includes hundreds of agencies--food pantries, feeding operations, child and senior care facilities--that in turn work on the ground to meet the needs of those at risk of hunger.

One of the goals of the partnership is to allow local LULAC councils to become catalysts in creating relationships between agencies serving those at risk of hunger in local communities and the Feeding America food banks.  Most of the time the LULAC councils are closely connected with agencies serving Hispanic communities. However--for a variety of reasons--many of these agenices aren't yet aware of the great potential in a relationship with their local food bank.

Tomorrow morning, the LULAC national leadership will join Tyson senior managers in making a joint donation of a truckload of food to the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank. In turn a part of that donation will be specifically targeted to agencies that serve Hispanic communities in northwest Arkansas.  The local LULAC council, which is already helping introduce agencies to the food bank, will be on hand as a critical part of that donation.

We believe this is another example of how groups working together can make the emergency food distribution system stronger, to serve those who are truly in need.

More than 900,000 southeast Texans experience hunger on a regular basis and each week approximately 80,000 families receive food assistance through the Houston Food Bank’s network of member agencies.  As the numbers show, hunger is still prevalent and a persistent problem in the region, which is why food bank officials are applauding good news from Tyson Foods, Inc.  and the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC). 

The partnership announced today the donation of more than 15 tons of much needed protein as part of its 1 million pound, three-year commitment to fight hunger together.  Houston city officials, LULAC leadership, food bank representatives and Tyson Team Members attended the ceremony. 

More than 1 million Texans experience hunger on a regular basis, and every week approximately 43,000 families receive food assistance through the North Texas Food Bank’s network of Member Agencies. As the numbers show, hunger is still prevalent and a persistent problem in the region, which is why Food Bank officials are applauding good news from Tyson Foods and the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC).

The partnership announced the donation of more than 15 tons of much needed protein today, as part of its 1 million pound, three-year commitment to fight hunger together. North Texas city officials, LULAC leadership, Food Bank representatives and Tyson Team Members attended the ceremony.

“The North Texas Food Bank strives to provide nutritious meals to those we serve. We are able to provide quality protein thanks to generous donations by Tyson. We value their products and partnership and so do the families who receive it,” said Jan Pruitt, North Texas Food Bank CEO. “Especially now that food prices are on the rise and the demand for food from our member agencies is up 17 percent. The donation today will serve as the centerpiece of more than 120,000 meals served throughout our network.”

Hector Flores, immediate past president of LULAC and native of Texas, was on hand today for the contribution. LULAC is the oldest and largest Latino civil rights organization in the United States. The group advances the economic condition, educational attainment, political influence, health and civil rights of Hispanic Americans through community-based programs operating at more than 700 LULAC councils nationwide.

More than one million Texans experience hunger on a regular basis, and every week approximately 25,000 people receive emergency food assistance through the San Antonio Food Bank’s network of partner agencies.  As the numbers show, hunger is still prevalent and a persistent problem in the region, which is why food bank officials are applauding good news from Tyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE: TSN) and the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC). 

The partnership announced today a donation of 17 tons of much needed protein to the San Antonio Food Bank (SAFB). The donation was made in advance of LULAC’s National Women’s conference beginning this Friday in San Antonio.  The announcement ceremony was attended by San Antonio city officials, LULAC leadership, food bank representatives and Tyson team members.

“The big-hearted effort and partnership between LULAC and Tyson Foods is outstanding as the need for protein is always high,” said Eric S. Cooper, executive director of the SAFB, “especially now that food prices are on the rise and donations are trending downward.  The donation today will serve as the centerpiece of more than 140,000 meals served throughout our network.”  Of all clients served by the network, 69 percent come from the Latino community.

Rosa Rosales, LULAC national president and a native of San Antonio, was on hand today for the contribution. LULAC is the oldest and largest Latino civil rights organization in the United States.  The group advances the economic condition, educational attainment, political influence, health and civil rights of Hispanic Americans through community-based programs operating at more than 700 LULAC councils nationwide.

“Today marks a significant milestone in our devotion to the Latino/Latina community,” said Rosales. “Without the collaboration of corporations like Tyson, gestures of goodwill like this donation would not have been possible.  We look forward to continuing our partnership with Tyson and making other donations nationwide.”

The protein given by Tyson today brings the company’s total in-kind donations since 2000 to well above 50 million pounds.  Eight years ago, Tyson Foods began its fight to end hunger.  The 50 million pound milestone equates to more than 200 million meals donated to food banks and agencies serving local communities around the country.

“Through our partnership with LULAC, Tyson Foods has pledged one million pounds of protein during the next three years to hunger relief in Latino communities throughout the U.S.,” said Javier Ortiz Multicultural Communications & Community Relations Manager, Tyson Foods. “This is a steadfast commitment by our Tyson team and we’re proud to be making a difference,” added Ortiz.

As football teams across the country prepare for battle on the gridiron this weekend, Tyson Foods, Inc.  and celebrity chef G. Garvin were in Atlanta today to battle hunger. 
    As a sponsor of this weekend’s Atlanta Football Classic, the company today donated a full truckload of protein products to the Atlanta Community Food Bank at an event this morning, where more than 37,000 pounds of products were delivered to the food bank’s Lowery Blvd. warehouse. Garvin joined representatives from the Atlanta City Council, Tyson Foods, John Grant of 100 Black Men of Atlanta and food bank personnel for the announcement.  The Atlanta Football Classic is one of many Football Classic events held among Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). 
    “The HBCU schools have so much pride in their culture, their teams and their bands, and they have a history of encouraging community service among their students and alumni,” said Libby Lawson, vice president of Public and Community Relations for Tyson Foods.  “Tyson Foods is a long-time sponsor of HBCU events, and we want to show our support for the Football Classic events by helping to fight hunger in the cities that are hosting them.” 
    An Atlanta native, Garvin’s association with Tyson Foods began last year when he was partnered with the company during the “King of the Grill” contest, where consumers sent in their favorite grilling recipes using chicken, beef or pork. As a nationally recognized chef, he has been retained by Tyson Foods as a celebrity chef spokesperson and supports the company’s products as well as its hunger relief efforts.
    The drumline from Southwest DeKalb High School set the tone for the donation event, where Garvin, city council officials and Tyson Foods representatives spoke about the partnership between Tyson Foods and the Atlanta Football Classic as well as the company’s efforts in the fight against hunger. Today’s donation is the second of four that Tyson Foods will contribute to food banks in cities where Football Classic events are scheduled this fall.  Similar donations will be made in Indianapolis, Ind., and Greensboro, N.C., and one was made in Memphis, Tenn., earlier this month. The donations total more than 140,000 pounds of protein that will provide more than half a million meals for hungry people.
     The Atlanta Community Food Bank distributed more than 22 million pounds of food to 800 member agencies last fiscal year. More than 300,000 people in a 38-county area are served by the food bank, and 30 percent of them are children.  ACFB oversees Atlanta's Table, Community Garden, Hunger 101, Hunger Walk/Run, Kids In Need, Product Rescue Center and The Atlanta Collaborative Kitchen (TACK), programs that help address hunger in and around Atlanta.  

  October 24, 2007--Greensboro, NC--As North Carolina A&T State University alumni, students, faculty, staff and community gear up for the 2007 Homecoming events and activities, Tyson Foods, Inc. will continue its fight against hunger.  As a supporter of HBCU schools across the country, the company today donated a full truckload of protein products to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina. More than 35,000 pounds of products were delivered to the food bank following a special presentation ceremony on the university campus on Nocho Street, directly across from Harrison Auditorium. 
  “The HBCU schools have so much pride in their culture, their teams and their bands, and they have a history of encouraging community service among their students and alumni,” said Libby Lawson, vice president of Media and Community Relations for Tyson Foods.  “Tyson Foods is a long-time partner with HBCU schools and their communities, and we want to show our support for these schools by helping to fight hunger in their cities.” 
 Today’s donation is the last of four that Tyson Foods has contributed to food banks in cities where the company partnered with HBCU schools to help feed the hungry.  Similar donations were made in Memphis, Tenn., Atlanta and Indianapolis totaling more than 140,000 pounds of protein that will provide more than half a million meals for hungry people. The previous donations were part of sponsorships for HBCU Classic Football events.

Above: Dan Heffernan -Tyson Foods Sales Manager.Rebecca Reyes - Food Bank Program Director.

LAS CRUCES, N.M., Sept. 19, 2007 –   As the world’s largest protein producer, Tyson Foods, Inc.  is always on the lookout for talented people. By developing partnerships with colleges that offer degree programs relevant to Tyson Foods’ business, the company is able to identify bright young people who want to become Team Members.  New Mexico State University (NMSU) is one such institution. Tyson Foods has partnered with NMSU to develop relationships with students who might be future employees. In recognition of the partnership and as part of Tyson Foods’ fight against hunger, the company today donated a truckload, or 38,473 pounds, of protein products to the Community Action Agency of Southern New Mexico (CAASNM).

 
The protein products were unloaded at an event held this morning at CAASNM facility at 320 Wyatt Drive, where representatives from Tyson Foods, NMSU and CAASM attended. NMSU students helped unload the Tyson Foods trailer. “We’re glad to be able to lend a hand to a community where we’ve gotten to know so many people,” said Craig Bacon, Vice President of Research and Development for Tyson Foods. “One of every four pounds of protein consumed in the world is a Tyson Foods product, and by working with colleges and universities while students are still in school, we can help introduce them to our company and familiarize them with our business and our corporate culture.” Tyson Foods executives have served as guest speakers at NMSU classes, and NMSU students and professors have visited production facilities and the company’s headquarters in Springdale, Ark.

Sept. 6, 2007 –   As the football teams and marching bands across the country prepare for battle this weekend, Tyson Foods is continuing its battle against hunger.  As a sponsor of this weekend’s Southern Heritage Classic in Memphis, the company today donated a full truckload of protein products to the Memphis Food Bank at an event attended by Tyson Foods representatives and food bank personnel.  More than 37,000 pounds of products were delivered to the food bank’s Heistan Place warehouse.  The Southern Heritage Classic is one of many Football Classic events held among Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). 

                        “The HBCU schools have so much pride in their culture, their teams and their bands, and they have a history of encouraging community service among their students and alumni,” said Libby Lawson, vice president of Media and Community Relations for Tyson Foods.  “Tyson Foods has sponsored HBCU events for several years, and we want to show our support for the Classic events by helping to fight hunger in the cities that are hosting them.”

above l.to r.--Jackie Ledbetter and Laura Bennett, Tyson Foods; Mary Hinojosa, U.S. Representative Ruben Hinojosa

For families in the Rio Grande Valley, food insecurity knows no season. In conjunction with a company-wide effort to end food insecurity, Tyson Foods announced today a donation of 29,900 pounds of protein to Rio Grande Valley Food Bank located in McAllen, Texas. Tyson representatives made the announcement at the El Tule Boys and Girls Club in Edinburg at an event attended by U.S. Representative Ruben Hinojosa, who is a member of the food bank advisory board. The donation from Tyson Foods will help the food bank serve its constituents a well-balanced meal and was made in conjunction with Hispanic Engineering Science and Technology Week, an event Tyson Foods is sponsoring in Edinburg at the University of Texas-Pan American.