Share Our Strength's Great American Bake Sale(R) Kicks Off With a National Challenge to All Americans

April 16th – 18th Marks First Annual Great American Bake Sale Challenge to Raise Funds to End Childhood Hunger in America

WASHINGTON, April 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Nearly 17 million children in America face hunger today – that's almost 1 in 4 kids who don't know when their next meal will come.  SHARE OUR STRENGTH®, the leading organization working to end childhood hunger in America, is encouraging Americans to help raise critical funds for the cause by holding bake sales in their communities. To be held from April 16 – 18, 2010, the Great American Bake Sale National Challenge is a three-day call to action to hold as many bake sales in as many states as possible.

As part of its first-ever Great American Bake Sale National Challenge, Share Our Strength is calling on individuals, businesses, cities and towns alike to hold as many bake sales in as many states across the country as possible from April 16 – 18, 2010 to help raise funds to end childhood hunger in America.  Bake sales can be held in a variety of venues, from schools to community centers to churches.  Businesses can incorporate bake sales on or off site and offer incentives to participating employees. Bake sales empower individuals, including children, to make a difference in their own communities and become part of the solution.

Since 2003, more than 1.7 million people have participated in Share Our Strength's Great American Bake Sale, raising $6 million to make sure no child in America grows up hungry. The effort has rallied some of the culinary world's most recognized celebrities like Food Network stars and national spokespeople Sandra Lee and Duff Goldman.

"Holding a bake sale is one of the easiest ways to make a really big difference in a child's daily life.  I am honored to be involved with Great American Bake Sale because I know how important it is to make sure that no child in America struggles with hunger," says Sandra Lee, official campaign spokesperson for Share Our Strength's Great American Bake Sale and star of Food Network's "Sandra's Money Saving Meals."

Childhood hunger is an issue that is often overlooked. Holding bake sales not only helps raise the critical funds necessary to aid the cause, but also creates awareness in communities and towns across the U.S.  The funds raised through Great American Bake Sale support Share Our Strength's efforts to end childhood hunger in America by 2015 and make NO KID HUNGRY a reality

Individuals or businesses that aren't able to take part in the three-day challenge are encouraged to participate in Great American Bake Sale's overall national campaign which runs through October 31st, 2010. Bake sale events are happening throughout the country. To find one in your area and help support Share Our Strength's mission to help end childhood hunger in America, go to: greatamericanbakesale.org.

About Great American Bake Sale

Share Our Strength's Great American Bake Sale®, presented by Domino® Sugar and C&H® Sugar, is a national effort that encourages Americans to host bake sales in their communities to support No Kid Hungry™, Share Our Strength's campaign to end childhood hunger in America by 2015. Since 2003, more than 1.7 million people have participated in the Great American Bake Sale, raising nearly $6 million to fight childhood hunger. Great American Bake Sale is supported by Food Network and partner Family Circle. Visit GreatAmericanBakeSale.org.

About Share Our Strength

Share Our Strength® is the leading national organization working to make sure no kid in America grows up hungry. By weaving together a net of community groups, activists and food programs, Share Our Strength catches children at risk of hunger and ensures they have nutritious food where they live, learn and play. Working closely with the culinary industry, Share Our Strength creates engaging, pioneering programs like Share Our Strength's Taste of the Nation®, the nation's premier culinary benefit; Share Our Strength's Great American Bake Sale®, a national grassroots effort; Share Our Strength's A Tasteful Pursuit®, a touring dinner series; Share Our Strength's Great American Dine Out ®, a week-long program involving thousands of restaurants nationwide; and Share Our Strength's Operation Frontline®, a cooking-based nutrition education program. Visit Strength.org and learn more about our goal of ending childhood hunger in America by 2015.

For more information or to sign up to hold a bake sale, please visit: greatamericanbakesale.org  

SOURCE Share Our Strength