Gap and FEED Projects Introduce FEED USA, a New Initiative and Exclusive Bag Collection Designed to Bridge the Gap in America's School Lunch Programs

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Gap is supporting America's school lunch programs one bag at a time with its limited edition collection of FEED USA bags, part of FEED Projects' U.S.-focused program to support nutrition in America's schools. Working together with FEED Projects founders Lauren Bush and Ellen Gustafson, Gap will donate $5 for every FEED USA bag sold to help improve food and nutrition education for more than 76 million school children through the National School Lunch Program. To celebrate the new collection, Gap is hosting a special Fashion's Night Out event this evening, at its 5th Ave. concept store in New York City, adjacent to its flagship store.

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The limited edition bags – exclusively co-designed for Gap by Lauren Bush and Patrick Robinson, Gap's EVP of Global Design – are a mix of denim and canvas looks and include the FEED USA Denim Bucket Bag in two different versions [$39.50] and the FEED USA Canvas Tote [$29.50]. Starting today, select Gap stores will introduce the FEED USA collection with all Gap stores in the U.S. carrying the collection by Monday, September 20. In addition, Gap is introducing a FEED USA Bandana Bag [$98] and FEED USA Denim or Canvas Lunchbox [$19.50], which will be available exclusively at the Gap + FEED USA pop-up shop in New York City. Each FEED USA Bandana Bag is unique, made from a mix of vintage and new bandanas, and is numbered to indicate the one-of-a-kind nature of each bag.

"FEED Projects is a remarkable melding of style, design and doing good," said Patrick Robinson, EVP of Global Design, Gap. "We are thrilled to partner with FEED Projects to help launch its U.S. efforts. Nutrition in America's schools is vital to our country's future success and Gap wants to do its part to help create a culture of healthy eating in America's schools."

Since each school faces different challenges to make their school healthier, Gap and FEED USA are letting shoppers choose exactly where to send their $5 donation based on teacher-led requests. FEED USA has partnered with DonorsChoose.org, an online charity that empowers teachers at the more than 101,000 schools where the National School Lunch Program operates. Teachers can make requests based on their school's needs like useful equipment [salad bars], educational tools [in-class cooking kits] and nutrition education experiences [a field trip to a farm]. With the purchase of a FEED USA bag, shoppers receive an eight-digit code and can visit http://www.theFEEDfoundation.org/FEEDUSA to select which school food improvement project they would like to dedicate their $5 donation.

"We've been incredibly successful addressing the hunger needs of children internationally through FEED Projects and this opportunity to work with Gap and expand our influence to school children in the U.S. is a huge step toward helping to make America's kids healthier," said Lauren Bush, Co-Founder and CEO of FEED Projects. "This exclusive collection was designed with Gap's signature look and feel in mind. We wanted to use iconic fabrics like denim and canvas to create something people are proud to wear and show their support for healthy eating and nutrition education in America's schools."

"We've wanted to address healthier school food in the U.S. through FEED for some time, and now through our partnership with DonorsChoose.org and Gap, we can empower teachers and Gap customers across America to be the agents of change for healthier food for America's children," said Ellen Gustafson, Co-Founder and Executive VP of FEED Projects.

In New York City, FEED Projects' Lauren Bush and Ellen Gustafson, Gap's own Patrick Robinson and model Angela Lindvall are co-hosting a special Fashion's Night Out this evening from 7-10 p.m. The event, taking place at Gap's rotating concept store on 5th Ave and 54th St., celebrates the new FEED USA collection and the opening of the Gap + FEED USA pop-up shop, open today through November 7. Shoppers can enjoy a live music performance from Jenny Owen Youngs, as well as signature cocktails featuring VeeV Vodka.

In addition to the limited edition FEED USA collection, the pop-up shop will also feature a variety of FEED Projects bags which directly benefit children in need including the FEED 1 bag [$60, feeds 1 child in school for a year], FEED 2 bag [$100, feeds 2 children in school for a year], FEED 2 Kenya bag [$200, feeds 2 children in Kenya in school for a year], FEED 50 Haiti bag [$35, feeds 50 school meals in Haiti] and more.

About Gap Inc.

Gap Inc. is a leading global specialty retailer offering clothing, accessories and personal care products for men, women, children and babies under the Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Piperlime and Athleta brand names. Fiscal 2009 sales were $14.2 billion. Gap Inc. operates about 3,100 stores in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Japan and Ireland. In addition, Gap Inc. is expanding its international presence with franchise agreements in Australia, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East. For more information, please visit www.gapinc.com.

SOURCE Gap Inc.