Wonder® Bread Hits the Road in Support of the USO at Four Ride 2 Recovery Cycling Events Across the U.S.

IRVING, Texas, March 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of its ongoing support and celebration of American heroes, Wonder® bread is supporting the USO and Ride 2 Recovery (R2R), which helps wounded and disabled veterans through indoor and outdoor cycling programs. Wonder will donate bread at four R2R challenges taking place in different regions of the country in 2012.

Wonder first supported R2R in 2011 for the Memorial Challenge, a ride from Washington D.C. to Virginia Beach that takes place annually over Memorial Day weekend.  This year, Wonder will deliver fresh loaves of bread for sandwiches at the daily USO lunch stops at four major R2R Challenge events. The first is the Gulf States Challenge, which runs from March 4th through the 10th and takes riders on an exciting journey from New Orleans, LA along the coastline of Mississippi and Alabama and ending in Tallahassee, FL. Wonder will also support this year's Memorial Challenge, taking place May 28th through June 2nd, as well as the Minuteman Challenge in the New England region, from Sept. 9th through 15th, and the California Challenge, which runs from San Francisco to Santa Monica from Sept. 30th through Oct. 6th.

"The USO and Wonder bread are two great American classics," said Tameika Miller, Brand Manager for the bakers of Wonder.  "For more than 70 years, the USO has been making a difference in the lives of our American troops and their families.  And for more than 90 years, Wonder bread has been a staple in American households and a family favorite. As Wonder continues to honor the impact that everyday heroes have on the people around them and their communities, we are proud to support the USO's mission and the creative programs it offers to help our veterans and active duty military personnel." 

"We applaud Wonder® bread's continuing support of the USO  and programs like Ride 2 Recovery that show our men and women in uniform that we are there for them," said USO SVP and Chief Development Officer Kelli Seely. "Ride 2 Recovery plays a critical role in the mental and physical healing process of our wounded, ill and injured. This is something our heroes need and deserve, so we are grateful to those who help us make it happen."

To learn more about Wonder, join our Facebook community at www.facebook.com/wonderbread or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/wonderbread. You can also visit www.wonderbread.com.

About Wonder:
Wonder bread, one of America's most popular brands of bread, has a long history of baking soft, delicious, and nutritious breads for the whole family. In 2010, Wonder® launched Smartwhite®, a new bread with the taste and soft texture of white bread - but with the fiber of 100% whole wheat bread. Last year, the brand also launched Wonder® Smartwheat®, a soft and delicious 100% whole wheat bread with added nutrition. Both breads have no high fructose corn syrup. In addition, Wonder Classic and Wonder Classic Sandwich breads have improved nutrition, providing the same amount of calcium as eight ounces of milk in two slices, and are good sources of vitamin D.

Wonder led the way in joining the National Sodium Reduction Initiative, an unprecedented public-private partnership established to help reduce sodium in foods by 20 percent over the next five years. Already, Wonder® Classic and Wonder® made with Whole Grain White and Smartwhite are baked to have reduced sodium.

About Ride 2 Recovery
Ride 2 Recovery, a 501(c) 3, helps injured veterans improve their physical and psychological health and wellness through rehabilitation programs that feature cycling as the core activity. From indoor spinning training at military installations to week- long Challenge events, Ride 2 Recovery helps injured veterans heal through cycling long distances using hand cycles, recumbents, tandems and traditional road bikes.

About the USO
The USO (United Service Organizations) lifts the spirits of America's troops and their families millions of times each year at hundreds of places worldwide. We provide a touch of home through centers at airports and military bases in the U.S. and abroad, top quality entertainment and innovative programs and services. We also provide critical support to those who need us most, including forward-deployed troops and their families, wounded warriors and their families and the families of the fallen.

The USO is a private, nonprofit organization, not a government agency. We rely on the generosity of our volunteers and donors.  In addition to individual donors and corporate sponsors, the USO is supported by President's Circle Partners: American Airlines, Kangaroo Express, Kroger, Northrop Grumman Corporation, AT&T, Inc. and TriWest Healthcare Alliance and Worldwide Strategic Partners: BAE Systems, The Boeing Company, Clear Channel Communications, The Coca-Cola Company, Lockheed Martin, Microsoft Corporation and Procter & Gamble. We are also supported through the United Way and Combined Federal Campaign (CFC-11381).  To join us in this patriotic mission, and to learn more about the USO, please visit uso.org.

SOURCE Wonder(R) Bread