America's Second Harvest, Newman's Own, Ford Strengthen Commitment To Fight Hunger

DEARBORN, Mich., Oct. 3, 2003 -- America's Second Harvest, Newman's Own and Ford Motor Company have partnered for the third consecutive year to provide trucks and food to 12 food banks and food rescue organizations to address the growing issue of hunger in America. Today's launch brings the total vehicles in operation to 38. Since its founding in 2001, the partnership's trucks have traveled over 260,000 miles and have distributed almost 2.5 million pounds of food to rural areas in need.

The USDA reports that the poverty rate for non-metropolitan areas is higher than in metro areas, 13.4 vs. 10.8%; in addition, child poverty rates are higher in rural areas (19%) than in metro areas (15%). 189 of the nation's 200 poorest counties are rural.

Paul Newman said of the alliance, "This has been a compelling and rewarding partnership. We are proud to partner with America's Second Harvest and Ford."

"Ford Motor Company is proud to once again partner with America's Second Harvest and Newman's Own to help improve food distribution in our communities," said Martin Zimmerman, Ford Motor Company Group Vice President, Corporate Affairs. "For 100 years we have been committed to improving the quality of life for the people who live in the communities in which we do business."

According to Robert Forney, President and CEO, America's Second Harvest, "The latest Census figures confirm that poverty and unemployment rates are as high, if not higher in rural America than in metropolitan areas. It's shameful that so many people need to turn to a hunger-relief program in their community just to eat in the very same communities where the food is raised," said Forney.

This year, the competitive bidding process was expanded to allow food rescue organizations to compete for one of the trucks, whether or not they served a largely rural community. These programs are heavily dependent on reliable transportation because they collect and distribute prepared foods directly to charitable agencies. Forgotten Harvest, serving Southfield, Mich. was chosen as the first food rescue program to receive a truck from the partnership.

America's Second Harvest is the largest domestic hunger-relief organization in the United States, feeding people in rural, urban and suburban communities. Paul Newman, as sole owner of Newman's Own, donates all his profits and royalties after taxes for educational and charitable purposes. Paul Newman has given over $150 million to thousands of charities since 1982.

  The cities receiving this year's trucks are:

  - The MANNA Food Bank, Asheville, N.C.
  - Southeast Texas Food Bank, Beaumont, Texas
  - FOOD for Lane County, Eugene, Ore.
  - Second Harvest Food Bank of Southeast North Carolina, Fayetteville, N.C.
  - Second Harvest North Central Food Bank, Grand Rapids, Minn.
  - Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Florida Jacksonville, Fla.
  - Second Harvest Food Bank of Southeastern Ohio, Logan, Ohio
  - Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, Orlando, Fla.
  - Peoria Area Food Bank, Peoria, Ill
  - Forgotten Harvest, Southfield, Mich.
  - Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma, Tulsa, Okla.
  - Community Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Indiana, Fort Wayne, Ind.

  For More information about rural hunger:
  - Rural Hunger, America's Second Harvest, Issue Brief #2
  - Nonmetro Poverty: Assessing the Effect of the 1990s, USDA, Amber Waves,
    Sept. 2003