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Baseball Hall-of-Famer Ozzie Smith Steps Up To The Plate To Help Strike Out Childhood Hunger in America

Strike Out Hunger Challenge Kicks-Off to Reward Those

Who Contribute to Hunger Relief Efforts

What:       The number of families going hungry in America is staggering.  A recent study conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture revealed that hunger is on the rise: more than 33 million people in the U.S. – including nearly 13 million children – live in households deemed “food insecure,” hungry, or at risk of hunger.  America’s Second Harvest, the nation’s largest non-profit organization of emergency food providers, reports that hunger doesn’t take the summer off, and it’s a particularly bad time for hungry children: 46.2 percent of its pantry programs indicate they see “many more children in the summer,” while 68.2 percent of kitchen programs indicate serving an increased number of children during summer.

 Ending hunger in America depends on the volunteer work of literally millions of Americans who can make a difference.  The Dannon Company is taking action and joining with America’s Second Harvest to identify and reward those who are helping to strike out hunger in America, and to help raise funds and encourage volunteerism for hunger-relief projects.

 To coincide with the 3^rd annual National Hunger Awareness Day (June 3^rd), the Dannon Strike Out Hunger Challenge invites volunteers to submit essays describing the time and energy they commit to helping feed the needy.  The contest kicks off May 25, 2004.  The grand prize includes $10,000 for the winner to donate to a hunger-relief organization to which he/she volunteers, and he/she will also receive $1,000 in free groceries from his/her local supermarket.  Four runners-up will each receive a $1,000 to be donated in their names to the food banks of their choice, and $1,000 in free groceries. 

                 Any American can make a difference: for every click on the Strike Out Hunger logo at                          www.dannon.com during the summer, Dannon will donate funds to America’s Second Harvest.

 Who:  Baseball Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith grew up in the South Central section of LA and has been an active community member, both volunteering with children and providing financial donations to help provide hunger relief in this country.

                        Ozzie Smith is available to discuss the current state of hunger in America and the importance of volunteering to help strike out hunger, provide tips on what people can do to help and tell people how they can enter the Dannon Strike Out Hunger Challenge.