The Albertsons Companies Begins Fall Season Fundraiser To Combat Childhood Hunger

BOISE, Idaho and LOS ANGELES, Sept. 8, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The Albertsons Companies and its store brands, in partnership with the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF), will join together for an in-store campaign featuring Academy and Emmy Award®-nominated actress Viola Davis to benefit Hunger Is, a charitable program of the Entertainment Industry Foundation. Hunger Is raises awareness and funds to fight childhood hunger in America. The Albertsons Companies store brands include Albertsons, Safeway, Amigos, Star Market, Pavilions, Tom Thumb, Jewel-Osco, Shaw's, ACME Markets, Randalls, Carrs, Market Street, United Supermarkets, Vons and Super Saver.

Taking place in September, this effort will be the first fall season in-store campaign to support Hunger Is, enabling shoppers to contribute to solving a problem that affects one in five children in America. The Hunger Is print PSA featuring Davis, which appears year-round in an array of media outlets, will be adapted for point-of-sale displays and other materials to be featured in select stores during the in-store campaign.

Shoppers across the country will be able to support this important cause at 2,200 locations in 33 states. In addition to individual shoppers' contributions, sales of select products from participating vendors will generate donations to Hunger Is, up to $1 million. Vendors include Marie Callendar's, Healthy Choice, Bertolli, P.F. Chang's, Campbell's, Coca-Cola, Kellogg's, Unilever and Albertsons' private label brands, O Organics and Open Nature.

To date, Hunger Is has raised over $10 million for programs connecting hungry children to healthy food. Today, Hunger Is continues to encourage individuals and communities to come together in an effort to improve access to school breakfasts, out-of-school and summer food programs, increase access to healthy foods and develop a lasting solution to childhood hunger.

"I couldn't be more proud of the incredible success we have had with Hunger Is. The support of our communities and our neighbors has made a tangible impact in our fight to eradicate childhood hunger in this country," stated Davis. "I am continually grateful to represent Hunger Is in its work to change lives and put an end to a problem that has gone on for far too long."

Funds raised through the initiative will go toward programs focused on fighting childhood hunger and improving health-related outcomes for hungry children and their families. In addition to supporting programs that connect hungry children to healthy food, Hunger Is will continue its focus on determining the best methods to link clients to resources that can help prevent food insecurity on a long-term basis.

"We are so grateful to have Viola Davis continue her active role in our shared mission to end childhood hunger in America," said Christy Duncan Anderson, Director of Community Relations for the Albertson Companies. "We cannot begin to express the level of gratitude we have for our customers in communities across the country. With the generous support of our vendors offering a wide array of participating products, we are able to expand this in-store fundraising campaign even further to make a larger impact. Their generous support throughout this campaign shows just how much this issue affects each and every one of us. We, along with our partners at the Entertainment Industry Foundation, stand with Viola as we share our goal of providing a brighter future for our youth."

Since 2014, Hunger Is has awarded grants on a national scale, which includes impact grants to organizations to evaluate "best practices" that might be implemented widely to help expand meal programs, increase access to nutritious food for families in need and improve state/local policies related to public nutrition programs for children. These supported programs will be evaluated to determine ongoing grant programs to make a sustainable impact on childhood hunger.

Hunger Is grant recipients were selected with the help of the Hunger Is Advisory Committee (HIAC), comprised of leaders from the most respected hunger advocacy organizations in the U.S., including the Center for Hunger-Free Communities, Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute, Drexel University, Feeding America, Food Research and Action Center (FRAC), Growing Power, New York City Coalition Against Hunger, Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry campaign, and WhyHunger. The HIAC provides guidance in defining and addressing needs and makes funding recommendations for approval by the Albertsons Companies stores and EIF Boards of Directors.

"We are honored to continue to pursue our goal of ending childhood hunger alongside the Albertsons Companies stores and our passionate Ambassador Viola Davis, whose personal experience struggling with hunger not only moves us all but provide a powerful voice for the children who struggle with hunger on a daily basis," said Lisa Paulsen, EIF President and CEO. "Together we will continue helping families across the nation as we move toward a solution."

For more information about childhood hunger, along with simple ways for individuals to get involved and donate, visit HungerIs.org. For information about the fall campaign and participating brands, go to Albertsons.com/HungerIsUs.

About Hunger Is
Hunger Is, a joint charitable program the Albertsons Companies, through The Safeway Foundation, and the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF), is designed to build awareness and raise funds in an effort to eradicate childhood hunger in America. Funds raised through Hunger Is directly benefit programs focused on combating childhood hunger and improving health-related outcomes. For more information, visit www.HungerIs.org.

About Albertsons Companies
The Albertsons Companies is one of the largest food and drug retailers in the United States, with both a strong local presence and national scale. The company operates stores across 33 states and the District of Columbia under 18 well-known banners including Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw's, ACME, Tom Thumb, Randalls, United Supermarkets, Pavilions, Star Market and Carrs.

About the Entertainment Industry Foundation
Founded in 1942, the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF) is a multifaceted organization that occupies a unique place in the world of philanthropy. By mobilizing and leveraging the powerful voice and creative talents of the entertainment industry, as well as cultivating the support of organizations (public and private) and philanthropists committed to social responsibility, EIF builds awareness and raises funds, developing and enhancing programs on the local, national and global level that facilitate positive social change. For more information, visit www.eifoundation.org.

Hunger Is Social Media:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/hungerisorg (Page name: @Hunger Is)
Twitter: www.twitter.com/hungeris (Handle: @HungerIs)
Instagram: www.instagram.com/hunger_is (Username: @Hunger_Is)

Viola Davis Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/viola.davis (Page name: @Viola Davis)
Twitter: https://twitter.com/violadavis (Handle: @ViolaDavis)

SOURCE Entertainment Industry Foundation

Related Links

http://www.eifoundation.org