ConAgra Foods is kicking off the third year of its nationally-recognized Child Hunger Ends Here campaign with an original song and exclusive video content from platinum recording artists Jewel, Owl City, and Jay Sean, and a social media influencer campaign comprised of leading bloggers from throughout the nation.
With these efforts, ConAgra Foods will work to meet its overall goal of donating five million meals this school year – which complements the ConAgra Foods Foundation’s $10 million, 5-year commitment – to Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization.
Co-written by industry-leading songwriters Hunter Hayes, Luke Laird and Barry Dean, the original song, “Here’s Hope,” leverages the power of music to inspire action, touch hearts and raise awareness for the issue, while motivating consumers to learn how they can help end child hunger in the United States. Beginning March 2, consumers can visit www.ChildHungerEndsHere.com to download original versions of the song recorded by Jewel, Owl City and Jay Sean, and enjoy exclusive content from each artist while supporting the Child Hunger Ends Here campaign.
“More than one in five children in the United States doesn’t know where their next meal is coming from, and for nearly two decades, ConAgra Foods and the ConAgra Foods Foundation have been powerful advocates for those children,” said Gary Rodkin, CEO of ConAgra Foods. “It is through our continued collaboration with Feeding America and our unwavering commitment, that we have been able to make progress in this fight. Now, with these talented performers, we hope to have an even bigger impact and encourage more consumers to join us.”
To participate, consumers can purchase specially marked packages of select ConAgra Foods brands including Banquet, Chef Boyardee, Healthy Choice, Hunt’s, Marie Callender’s, Manwich, Orville Redenbacher’s, Peter Pan and Snack Pack, then visit www.ChildHungerEndsHere.com to enter the eight-digit code found on specially marked packages. For each code entered, the equivalent of one meal will be donated to Feeding America. Codes can be redeemed through August 2012.
In return for entering a code from specially marked packages, consumers can download their favorite version of “Here’s Hope” from Jewel, Owl City and Jay Sean. Exclusive interviews, messages and behind-the-scenes videos by each artist will also be available during the program on www.ChildHungerEndsHere.com. Consumers will also be able to submit their zip code to enter their local Feeding America food bank into a competition to receive an 80,000-meal donation (ten food banks will receive based on the total number of zip codes entered) courtesy of ConAgra Foods.
“As a homeless teen, I experienced the epidemic of hunger first-hand. Now, as a new mother, it breaks my heart to know that children suffer from this every day,” said Jewel. “I’m honored and humbled to be able to help those in need through the Child Hunger Ends Here program and say to our friends and neighbors struggling with hunger, ’Here’s hope.’”
Owl City’s Adam Young added: “When I learned of the hunger crisis affecting kids in my home state of Minnesota, let alone nationwide, I was eager to get involved and do my part to help end this national crisis.”
Cash Money recording artist Jay Sean said: “I’ve been a New Yorker since I arrived in the United States to pursue my music career, and I often see people suffering with various forms of poverty. I was unaware, however, just how many children were living without enough food in New York City and throughout the United States. I know music can feed the soul and I’m hopeful that through this program, it can help feed America’s young people, as well.”
In addition to partnering with celebrity talent, ConAgra Foods is enlisting its own talent for the company’s Week of Service, March 5-10. Employees at locations nationwide will volunteer at food banks, pack boxes of food and serve meals. The company hopes to exceed the 3,000 hours employees volunteered during last year’s Week of Service.
ConAgra Foods is Feeding America’s Leadership Partner in the fight to end child hunger. The company and the ConAgra Foods Foundation have collectively donated more than 275 million pounds of food and invested more than $36 million dollars to combat child hunger since 1993. The Foundation, the philanthropic organization primarily funded by ConAgra Foods, is in the midst of a $10 million, 5-year commitment to Feeding America, the largest donation ever made to Feeding America specifically to fight child hunger.
“With the launch of ’Here’s Hope’ as the official kick-off to the third year of the Child Hunger Ends Here Campaign, Feeding America celebrates our long-standing partnership with ConAgra Foods — a company that has committed time, food and funds to Feeding America with both passion and purpose,” said Vicki Escarra, president and CEO of Feeding America. “With the help of friends, neighbors and music fans across the country, we know we can continue to make a positive difference in the lives of children in need.”
For more information, visit www.ChildHungerEndsHere.com. You can also follow the discussion at www.facebook.com/ConAgraFoods, or tweet along by following www.twitter.com/ConAgraFoods and using #ChildHungerEndsHere.
