As U.S. Volunteerism Declines, Company Redoubles Efforts; Brings Spirit of Serve America Act to Life as 10,000+ Employees in 33 Countries Step Up to Volunteer

WASHINGTON, Oct. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- One great project. Twenty-five Kraft Foods' employee volunteers. More than 4,500 meals prepared. What does that add up to? Thousands of people in Washington D.C. benefiting from Kraft Foods' first-ever global "Make a Delicious Difference Week."

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Today in Washington D.C., the company is teaming up with the DC Central Kitchen to prepare meals for people in need throughout the D.C. metro area. Representatives Jo Ann Emerson and James McGovern also will attend the event. With similar activities taking place around the world, this special week of service (Oct. 5-10) will benefit roughly 500,000 people in need.

The unprecedented global effort will mobilize more than 10,000 employee volunteers - six times more than in previous efforts. From local employees to Irene Rosenfeld, Chairman and CEO, employees in 33 countries will lend a hand to fight hunger, promote healthy lifestyles and build stronger communities. Add it up, "Make a Delicious Difference Week" is the single largest volunteer project in Kraft Foods' history.

To stretch its employees' efforts, the Kraft Foods Foundation also will match U.S. employee cash contributions to nonprofits on a two-to-one basis throughout the week.

"We may be best known for cooking up tasty products, such as Oreo cookies and Kraft macaroni and cheese, but this week is all about making a delicious difference in our communities," explained Brian Folkerts, Vice President, Government Affairs, who helped lead the effort. "The volunteer spirit of our employees combined with the expertise of DC Central Kitchen is a winning recipe to fight hunger. Knowing our efforts here in Washington D.C. are an important ingredient in our first global week of service makes this experience even more powerful."

Robert Eggers, President, DC Central Kitchen explains, "Hunger in America is on the rise. The shocking reality is that it affects thousands of people here in Washington D.C. alone. By joining hands with Kraft Foods volunteers, we can achieve the mission of the DC Central Kitchen."

"The need here in Washington D.C. is great," underscored Congressman McGovern. "The power of Kraft Foods' volunteers and the good works of DC Central Kitchen will make a real difference right here in our own backyards."

"The fight against hunger requires the best efforts of volunteers who know how deeply this affliction hurts Americans, especially children, who don't have enough to eat," said Representative Emerson. "This effort is a great model of the kind of contributions needed to reduce the dramatic number of 36.2 million Americans who do not get enough to eat - 12 million of them children."

Serving Up the Spirit of Service When Needed Most

To encourage U.S. citizens to lend a hand, the new Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act took effect on Oct. 1, just days before the company's global volunteer effort. The renewed focus on giving back is critical in this economic downturn, as nearly three-quarters of Americans cut back on civic participation, including volunteering, according to the National Conference on Citizenship. But you can start changing this reality with a simple click!

Beginning Oct. 13, people can visit www.kraftfoodscompany.com to learn how to spread the volunteer spirit through a special online video. Each time this video is viewed, Kraft Foods will donate money to Feeding America to help provide five meals to those at risk of hunger -- up to 100,000 meals through the end of October.

Kraft Foods Support of Hunger and Healthy Lifestyles

As the second largest food company in the world, Kraft Foods is taking a stand when it comes to fighting hunger and promoting healthy lifestyles. Since 1997, the company has provided more than 1 billion servings of fresh food. Around the world, the company contributes approximately $100 million annually in food and money to community organizations. The company committed $180 million in the next three years to community involvement activities around the globe. The expansion of its global employee volunteer efforts though the first global "Make a Delicious Difference Week" is another example of Kraft Foods' stepped up efforts. In Washington D.C., the company has supported the fight against hunger through partnerships with the Congressional Hunger Center, Food & Friends, Food Research Action Council, Friends of the World Food Program and So Others Might Eat.

Kraft Foods (www.kraftfoodscompany.com) makes today delicious in 150 countries around the globe. Our 100,000 employees work tirelessly to make delicious foods consumers can feel good about. From American brand icons like Kraft cheeses, dinners and dressings, Maxwell House coffees and Oscar Mayer meats, to global powerhouse brands like Oreo and LU biscuits, Philadelphia cream cheeses, Jacobs and Carte Noire coffees, Tang powdered beverages and Milka, Cote d'Or, Lacta and Toblerone chocolates, our brands deliver millions of smiles every day. Kraft Foods (NYSE: KFT) is the world's second largest food company with annual revenues of $42 billion. The company is a member of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, Standard & Poor's 500, the Dow Jones Sustainability Index and the Ethibel Sustainability Index.

                                 - make today delicious -

SOURCE Kraft Foods

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