Hood® Simply Smart® Milk Recognizes The Women's Lunch Place's Sharon Reilly for Her Dedication to Making a Difference in Boston

BOSTON, Oct. 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Hood® Simply Smart® Milk and Chris Evert, Simply Smart spokesperson and tennis legend, presented Sharon Reilly, Executive Director of The Women's Lunch Place, with a $7,500 donation at an event held today at the Women's Lunch Place. Reilly was announced in May as the recipient of the "Make a Difference, Taste a Difference" program for her dedication and hard work serving local Boston women in need. The Women's Lunch Place is a non-profit that has provided food, shelter and services to homeless women in Boston for almost 30 years.

"On behalf of the Women's Lunch Place, I am honored to receive this generous donation from the  Hood® Simply Smart® 'Make a  Difference, Taste a Difference' campaign," said Sharon Reilly, Executive Director of The Women's Lunch Place.  "Every day, The Women's Lunch Place strives to serve and meet the needs of women in the city of Boston that are less fortunate and need our assistance. It is my passion to continue to make strides to help these women who need our assistance for their daily living."  

The Simply Smart Make a Difference, Taste a Difference program recognizes local women making a difference in their communities. Sharon Reilly is one of three recipients throughout the country being acknowledged for her accomplishments. The other women being honored for their great work are Liz Salguero of Circle of Care, Wilton, Conn., and Dottie Berger MacKinnon of Kids Charity of Tampa Bay, Inc., Tampa Bay, Fla. Consumers helped each of these women Make a Difference in their communities by downloading a coupon for Simply Smart Milk at BeSimplySmart.com from May through July 2011. For every coupon redeemed, Simply Smart Milk pledged 25 cents (up to $7,500) to Women's Lunch Place and the other honored organizations.

"With Simply Smart Milk, you can taste a difference -- all the taste without all the fat. We're proud that consumers helped Make a Difference in their local communities by honoring three exceptional women and the organizations they support," said Elizabeth Underhill, Senior Marketing Manager, HP Hood. "Acknowledging Sharon and the Women's Lunch Place for the work they do to help local women make the right choices for themselves, their families and their communities is important."

"It's a true honor to recognize Sharon Reilly of the Women's Lunch Place as part of the Hood® Simply Smart® 'Make a Difference, Taste a Difference' program with a donation to the Women's Lunch Place organization for $7,500.  It is important for everyone to not only make a difference in their community but also for their families in their everyday choices. The women being recognized by Hood for their efforts are true examples of how their dedication and hard work are leaving a lasting imprint on their communities."

Since 1982, thousands of Boston's poorest women have found refuge and welcome at the Women's Lunch Place. Sharon Reilly and her team help each woman that comes through the doors of the Women's Lunch Place get back on their feet so they can provide themselves with the basic necessities of daily living.

For more information, visit www.BeSimplySmart.com.

The Women's Lunch Place, Boston, MA

The Women's Lunch Place (www.womenslunchplace.org) provides a safe, comfortable daytime shelter, nutritious food, and services for women who are homeless or poor. They treat women with dignity and respect and foster a community committed to meeting each woman's needs.

About Hood

Founded in 1846, today Hood is one of the largest branded dairy operators in the United States.  Hood is the number-one dairy brand in New England, and Hood's portfolio of national and super-regional brands and franchise products includes Hood, Crowley Foods, Simply Smart Milk, Heluva Good!, LACTAID®, BAILEYS® Coffee Creamers, HERSHEY®'S Milk and Milkshakes, Fiber One® Cottage Cheese and Blue Diamond Almond Breeze®. For more information about Hood, please visit Hood.com.

SOURCE Hood Simply Smart