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Tyson Foods Honors Dan McClosky as a “Hunger All-Star”
OAKLAND, Calif., April 1, 2008 – For more than nine years, Oakland resident Dan McClosky has worked tirelessly to help feed the hungry in the Bay area, raising money and collecting food through local synagogues for the annual Holiday Dinner Drive. To date, he has raised more than $293,000 for the Alameda County Community Food Bank. For his efforts, Tyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE:TSN) has named McClosky a “Hunger All-Star,” an honor that comes with a 1,000-pound donation of protein to his favorite charity and more than 15 tons of protein to the Food Bank, the organization that nominated him. “It’s inspirational to see one single person have such an impact on hunger,” said Ed Nicholson, director of community relations for Tyson Foods. “We are glad to honor Mr. McClosky as an ‘All-Star’ and hope that his story will encourage other people to become actively involved in the fight against hunger in their communities.” McClosky was nominated on Tyson Foods’ new hunger relief website, hungerrelief.tyson.com. Each month, winners are selected from nominations submitted on the website. “This generous donation comes at a critical time when the costs of food and gas are skyrocketing and donations to food banks are dwindling,” said Suzan Bateson, executive director of the Food Bank. “Our partner organizations serve 40,000 low-income people each week – 14,000 of whom are children – and they depend on the generosity of others for their next meal. We are so grateful to Dan for his outstanding efforts that make a real difference to our community and to Tyson Foods for recognizing him and providing our food bank with one of the most important elements of proper nutrition – protein.” For McClosky the issue of hunger prompted action. After reading an article in 1999 about turkey shortages at local food banks, he made some calls, raised the money and bought 55 turkeys. The next year he raised $13,000 with the help of the Temple Sinai Brotherhood. Each year since then the Holiday Dinner Drive, as it is now known, has grown to include 16 participating organizations that raised $46,000 for the Food Bank last year. “It can be unsettling to know that people can go hungry in a nation known for its abundance,” said McClosky. “Food banks are an efficient way to get food to the people who need it the most, but their resources are often limited. Supporting the work of the Food Bank is a way for me to help fight hunger in my community.” 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. For more information on how to get involved in the fight against hunger, go to www.tyson.com or hungerrelief.tyson.com. General Information Established in 1985, the Alameda County Community Food Bank, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, is located at 7900 Edgewater Drive in Oakland and is open M-F, 8:30 – 5. The Food Bank works with 300 community based organizations, including soup kitchens and food pantries, to provide emergency food assistance to 40,000 people in need each week. In addition to food distribution, the Food Bank works to break the cycle of poverty and hunger through education and advocacy efforts. For more information, call (510) 635-3663. Tyson Foods, Inc. [NYSE: TSN], founded in 1935 with headquarters in Springdale, Arkansas, is the world’s largest processor and marketer of chicken, beef, and pork, the second-largest food production company in the Fortune 500 and a member of the S&P 500. The company produces a wide variety of protein-based and prepared food products and is the recognized market leader in the retail and foodservice markets it serves. Tyson provides products and service to customers throughout the United States and more than 80 countries. The company has approximately 104,000 Team Members employed at more than 300 facilities and offices in the United States and around the world. Through its Core Values, Code of Conduct and Team Member Bill of Rights, Tyson strives to operate with integrity and trust and is committed to creating value for its shareholders, customers and Team Members. The company also strives to be faith-friendly, provide a safe work environment and serve as stewards of the animals, land and environment entrusted to it. Visit www.tyson.com for more details.
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