News Release


60+ Kraft Foods' Volunteers Team Up with Community Food Bank and Foodlink in Response to Drought Crisis to Make a Delicious Difference in Fresno and Tulare County

First Global “Make a Delicious Difference Week” Unites 10,000+ Employees to Fight Hunger, Promote Healthy Lifestyles and Build Stronger Communities

Fresno, CA (Oct. 8, 2009) – Two volunteer projects. Two days. $5,000. More than 60 Kraft Foods’ volunteers. What does that add up to? Hundreds of people in Fresno and Tulare County benefiting from Kraft Foods’ first-ever global “Make a Delicious Difference Week.”

With more than 10,000 employees in 33 countries participating around the world, this special week of service (Oct. 5-10) will benefit roughly 500,000 people in need. The effort will mobilize six times the number of volunteers than in previous efforts and build on the company’s commitment to fighting hunger and promoting healthy lifestyles.

Plant manager Cheryl Gordon will join about 20 volunteers on Thursday in partnership with Community Food Bank to distribute food to those in need. “We may be best known for making delicious foods like Cornnuts, but this week is all about making a delicious difference in our communities,” said Gordon. “The volunteer spirit of our employees combined with the expertise of these organizations is a winning recipe to fight hunger. Knowing our efforts here in Fresno are an important ingredient in our first global week of service makes this experience even more powerful.”

Local projects include:

  • Partnering with the Community Food Bank Central Valley California to distribute food to those in need in Selma, Calif.
  • Packing boxes of food to be distributed throughout Tulare County by FoodLink

In addition to the volunteer work, the Kraft Foods Foundation donated $5,000 to Community Food Bank. To supplement its employees’ efforts, the company’s foundation will match U.S. employee cash contributions to nonprofits on a two-to-one basis throughout the week.

Serving Up the Spirit of Service When Needed Most
As the need rises in Fresno, Kraft Foods’ commitment to preventing hunger and promoting healthy lifestyles is stronger than ever.

Due to the drought emergency declared in Fresno by Governor Schwarzenegger, Community Food Bank is distributing 3 million pounds of food a month in emergency aid to hunger-stricken rural communities in Fresno County. In July, Community Food Bank distributed 1.6 million pounds of food and in August, it rose to 2.8 million pounds, a rate of increase that is unprecedented for the organization. It is currently serving 90,000 people per week, which has increased from 70,000 in January.

Donna Wilkie, CEO, Community Food Bank, explains, “We need this assistance now more than ever. The shocking reality is that there are 3,500 people here in Fresno alone in need of our services. By joining hands with Kraft Foods volunteers, we can achieve our mission of providing food to people in need in the Fresno area.”

Community Food Bank is looking for volunteers to help with its emergency food relief distribution effort. To volunteer, please visit www.communityfoodbank.net.

Spreading the Giving Spirit
Starting Oct. 13, people can visit www.kraftfoodscompany.com to learn how to spread the volunteer spirit through a special online video. Each time this video is viewed, Kraft Foods will donate money to Feeding America to help provide five meals to those at risk of hunger -- up to 100,000 meals through the end of October.

Kraft Foods Support of Hunger and Healthy Lifestyles
As the second largest food company in the world, Kraft Foods is taking a stand when it comes to fighting hunger and promoting healthy lifestyles. Since 1997, the company has provided more than 1 billion servings of fresh food. Around the world, the company contributes approximately $100 million annually in food and money to community organizations. The company committed $180 million in the next three years to community involvement activities around the globe. The expansion of its global employee volunteer efforts though the first global “Make a Delicious Difference Week” is another example of Kraft Foods’ stepped up efforts.

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Contacts

Ana Paula Cruz
847.646.4538
news@kraft.com

Brian Moriarty
212.981.5252
brian_moriarty@dkcnews.com


About Community Food Bank
Community Food Bank (CFB) serves as the center of a vast network of agencies located throughout Fresno, Madera and Kings counties. These agencies are food pantries, residential shelters, community kitchens, adult and child day care centers, and so much more! Community Food Bank is involved in the solicitation, acquisition, warehousing and distribution of the food that these agencies acquire and serve to those in need. Currently, CFB has 170 member agencies.


ABOUT KRAFT FOODS INC.
Kraft Foods (www.kraftfoodscompany.com) makes today delicious in 150 countries around the globe. Our 100,000 employees work tirelessly to make delicious foods consumers can feel good about. From American brand icons like Kraft cheeses, dinners and dressings, Maxwell House coffees and Oscar Mayer meats, to global powerhouse brands like Oreo and LU biscuits, Philadelphia cream cheeses, Jacobs and Carte Noire coffees, Tang powdered beverages and Milka, Cote d'Or, Lacta and Toblerone chocolates, our brands deliver millions of smiles every day. Kraft Foods (NYSE: KFT) is the world's second largest food company with annual revenues of $42 billion. The company is a member of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, Standard & Poor's 500, the Dow Jones Sustainability Index and the Ethibel Sustainability Index.