Snickers(R) Brand is Asking America's Help to Bar Hunger

HACKETTSTOWN, N.J., July 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Mars Chocolate North America announced today that its SNICKERS® Brand will continue to help Feeding America 'Bar Hunger.'  Because one in six Americans struggles with hunger, SNICKERS will donate the equivalent of as many as three and a half million meals to the hunger relief organization, as well as educate and empower Americans to join the effort.

SNICKERS will kick start the campaign by making a baseline donation of the equivalent of two and a half million meals to Feeding America.  Americans can help 'Bar Hunger' by texting the code from specially-marked SNICKERS wrappers to 45495 or by entering the code online at www.SNICKERS.com.  SNICKERS will donate the equivalent of one additional meal to Feeding America for every wrapper code that is collected – up to one million meals.  The specially-marked SNICKERS wrappers also include information on hunger in America.

To help generate awareness for the cause, SNICKERS has partnered with actor David Arquette, GQ magazine and NASCAR superstar Kyle Busch.

Arquette, who is the chairman of Feeding America's Entertainment Council, as well as a weekly volunteer at a food pantry in Venice, Calif., will be featured alongside the 'Bar Hunger' campaign as part of GQ's special "Gentlemen's Fund" initiative.  Arquette picked 'Bar Hunger' as his cause of choice for the special edition of the magazine.  Arquette will also participate in a special 'Bar Hunger' event in Los Angeles this August to help spread the word about the cause.

Busch will pilot a special SNICKERS 'Bar Hunger' No. 18 Toyota during the Lifelock.com 400 at Chicagoland Speedway on July 10.  Busch also plans to visit Feeding America's national headquarters while in Chicago.

"Unfortunately, the issue of hunger is still overlooked in this country," said Debra A. Sandler, chief consumer officer for Mars Chocolate North America.  "That's why we've brought 'Bar Hunger' back for a second year, as well as created a forum for Americans to easily spread the word and help their neighbors in need.  We're committed to Feeding America and their efforts to 'Bar Hunger' once and for all."

Hunger in America

The need for food assistance has never been greater.  According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) annual study measuring food security in the United States, 49.1 million Americans lived in food insecure homes in 2008.  That's roughly one in six Americans in need.

As the nation's largest domestic hunger-relief charity, Feeding America's network of more than 200 food banks provides food to more than 37 million low-income people facing hunger in the United States.  Those member food banks support approximately 61,000 local charitable agencies and 70,000 programs, which provide food directly to individuals and families in need.

"We're grateful for the support of SNICKERS®," said Vicki Escarra, president and CEO of Feeding America.  "Campaigns like 'Bar Hunger' are critical for our organization because they not only provide meals to help us support Americans in need, but they also raise the volume on the issue, helping to inspire Americans to help."

For more information about SNICKERS or the 'Bar Hunger' campaign, visit www.SNICKERS.com or www.Facebook.com/SNICKERS.

About Mars Chocolate North America:

Mars Chocolate North America is the North American chocolate operations of Mars, Incorporated.  Mars, Incorporated is a private, family-owned company founded in 1911 and employing more than 65,000 associates at over 370 sites, including 135 factories, in 68 countries worldwide.  Headquartered in McLean, Virginia, U.S.A., Mars, Incorporated is one of the world's largest food companies, generating global sales of more than $28 billion annually and operating in six business segments: Chocolate, Petcare, Wrigley Gum and Confections, Food, Drinks, and Symbioscience.  These segments produce some of the world's leading brands: Chocolate – M&M'S®, SNICKERS®, DOVE®, GALAXY®, MARS®, MILKY WAY® and TWIX®; Petcare – PEDIGREE®, WHISKAS®, SHEBA®, CESAR®, NUTRO®, GREENIES®, and ROYAL CANIN®; Wrigley – ORBIT®, EXTRA®, STARBURST®, DOUBLEMINT® and SKITTLES®; Food – UNCLE BEN'S®, DOLMIO®, EBLY®, MASTERFOODS® and SEEDS OF CHANGE®; Drinks – KLIX® and FLAVIA®; Symbioscience – WISDOM PANEL™, SERAMIS®, CIRKUHEALTH™ and COCOAPRO®.

For more information, please visit www.mars.com.

About Feeding America

Feeding America provides low-income individuals and families with the fuel to survive and even thrive.  As the nation's leading domestic hunger-relief charity, our network members supply food to more than 37 million Americans each year, including 14 million children and 3 million seniors.  Serving the entire United States, more than 200 member food banks support 63,000 agencies that address hunger in all of its forms.  For more information on how you can fight hunger in your community and across the country, visit http://www.feedingamerica.org.  Find us on Facebook at facebook.com/FeedingAmerica or follow our news on Twitter at twitter.com/FeedingAmerica.

SOURCE Mars Chocolate North America