Chrysler Group and United Way for Southeastern Michigan Serve Up More Than 100,000 Summer Meals in Fight to End Childhood Hunger

Company Volunteers Help to Close the Hunger Gap for Children throughout Metro Detroit

AUBURN HILLS, MI, Aug. 24, 2012:

• 1 in 5 Michigan children struggle to access nutritious food
• Thousands of Chrysler Group employees embrace challenge to end childhood hunger

This summer, Chrysler Group LLC partnered with United Way for Southeastern Michigan (UWSEM) to join in the fight against childhood hunger and raise awareness for underused summer meal programs throughout Detroit metro area communities. A variety of employee-supported initiatives, including volunteering at local food pantries, company and community food drives, and community summer food program events, served up more than 100,000 summer meals for hungry children.

"We couldn't have achieved such success without combining forces with a company like Chrysler and other Detroit-based organizations," said Eric Davis, Director, Food Initiative, United Way for Southeastern Michigan. "The fact that we can rally together and utilize our resources to ignite change in such a critical issue like childhood hunger shows the commitment of these organizations to Detroit and its surrounding communities."

From June to August, thousands of Chrysler Group employees participated in a variety of initiatives throughout metro Detroit aimed at ending childhood hunger, including an on-line pledge to end hunger by sharing information through social media.

"The response to this challenge has been overwhelming," said Nancy Rae, Senior Vice President- Human Resources, Chrysler Group LLC. "With 1 in 5 children across Michigan struggling to access nutritious food, childhood hunger is an issue that really hits home for the employees working in our plants and offices. It's truly rewarding to see how their spirit of volunteerism and devotion to the cause has made a difference."

Company and Community Food Drives 

Through company-wide food drives and door-to-door collections in the Rochester Hills area, Chrysler Group employees collected 16 tons of non-perishable food – enough to prepare 28,000 meals to feed hungry children and families throughout metro Detroit. The food drives, held in partnership with the United Auto Workers (UAW), benefited local food pantries operated by Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan (Gleaners).

Weekend Backpacks Help Bridge the Hunger Gap

The Chrysler Foundation and Chrysler Group also partnered with Gleaners to fill and distribute 12,000 weekend backpacks with nutritious food (a total of 72,000 meals) for children who are at risk of hunger and malnutrition this summer. The backpacks, filled with sliced peaches, cut green beans, beef ravioli, spaghetti and meatballs, raisin bran cereal and shelf stable milk – enough food for about six weekend meals – help to bridge the hunger gap during the weekends when summer food service programs are not available.

Food, Friends and Fun

Some 1,900 children and adults attended summer "Food, Friends and Fun" block parties and were fed a free nutritious lunch. The block parties, which also featured music, games and other family-friendly activities, were created to remind parents about the free Summer Meals Program available to children -- 18 and under. The UAW, UWSEM and Chrysler Group teamed up to create the events that were held during the month of August at various locations throughout the Detroit metro area.

"Truly, we are in a fortunate position --as a company and as individuals -- to reach out to our neighbors, especially children, to help provide a degree of stability to their lives," added Rae.

About United Way for Southeastern Michigan

United Way for Southeastern Michigan mobilizes the caring power of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties to improve lives in measurable and lasting ways throughout the region. The organization is led by a diverse group of volunteers from business, labor, government, human services, education and the community. United Way provides opportunities to invest in the metropolitan Detroit community through its annual Campaign and is a leader in convening partners to impact local residents each year by increasing economic self-sufficiency, protecting children and youth at risk, strengthening families, empowering neighborhoods and communities, and promoting health and wellness. Additional information is available at Live United SEM.