Welch's Partners With Family-to-Family To Connect Families With More To Families With Less

Annual Infrastructure Grant Expands Charity Nationally

CONCORD, Mass., Nov. 21, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Thanksgiving is a special day when families connect over a meal and give thanks for the time they have together. Welch's believes in the magic of these family moments and today the brand announced a multi-year partnership with Family-to-Family, a non-profit national hunger relief organization.

Family-to-Family is dedicated to connecting families with "more" to families struggling to put food on the table, with the goal of teaching empathy, compassion, and  the life-long habit of giving  to future generations. Family-to-Family has a variety of programs that create a bridge between communities with enough to share and some of America's poorest areas. Sponsoring families and individuals are linked with  families living in poverty. Through the three-year partnership with Welch's, this unique charity is planning to expand from 13 states to supporting families across all 50 states.

Like many of Family-to-Family's donors, Welch's was looking for a way to give back beyond just writing a check.  The partnership will include an annual grant to bolster the infrastructure to expand nationally, communications support to spread awareness, and an annual event. "We're thrilled to get involved with such a unique organization that shares our belief in the importance of family connections, and are excited to work with Family-to-Family to expand throughout the country," Brad Irwin, Welch's president and CEO commented. 

To kick off the partnership, Welch's is donating 100% grape juice to be included in 1,000 Thanksgiving in a Box meals delivered to families impacted by Hurricane Sandy within the Family-to-Family network. "It's a great example of how Family-to-Family can help families come together in times of extreme hardship," said Irwin.    

Family-to-Family's core program – Sponsor A Family – provides ongoing support from one family to another.  "By connecting donor families one-to-one with recipient families, we bring large and seemingly overwhelming problems into perspective," shares Pam Koner, Family-to-Family's founder and executive director. "We're fighting hunger one family at a time. Working with Welch's will help us to build our team and extend our reach into new communities to make more family connections possible while spreading the word about this personal way for families to give."

Koner started Family-to-Family in 2002 after reading a series in The New York Times that highlighted struggling families in Pembroke, Illinois.  The story struck a chord with Koner who reached out to families in her town—Hastings-on-Hudson, New York—to mount a response. They began to send boxes of fundamental, non-perishable food necessities to specific families in Pembroke. This grew into Family-to-Family's unique "one-to-one" sponsorship model, where a donor family helps provide their recipient family with monthly groceries and other basic necessities, and communicates with them regularly through letters. This gives the program a much more personal face than charity often assumes.

"We are eager to provide Family-to-Family with the means to extend its reach, and excited to help bring families together and put food in the cupboards of some of our nation's poorest families," added Irwin.

To learn more about Family-to-Family and how to get involved, visit Family-to-Family.org.  Visit welchs.com to hear more about this partnership. 

About Welch's®
Headquartered in Concord, Massachusetts, Welch's is the processing and marketing subsidiary of the National Grape Cooperative. Welch's is owned by more than 1,000 family farmers across America and in Ontario, Canada, who make up this cooperative and who grow the delicious and inherently healthy Concord grape used in Welch's juices and other grape-based products. Welch's is committed to research and development that will meet the growing demand for products that address consumers' health and nutrition needs. Welch's products are sold throughout the United States and in approximately 50 countries around the globe. Welch's is an Equal Opportunity Employer- Minorities/Female/Disabled/Veterans. For more information on Welch's visit welchs.com.

SOURCE Welch's