| Kellogg Awarded UW's Spirit of America Award | | Print | |
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"Kellogg Company and its employees have clearly demonstrated their commitment to improving lives by going far beyond just running a campaign. They've stepped up with increased product donations, volunteerism, social media outreach, cause marketing and even economic revitalization efforts in their headquarter city," said Brian Gallagher, president and CEO of United Way Worldwide. "We are proud to recognize our Global Corporate Leadership partner Kellogg with United Way’s highest national award for their innovation, leadership and generosity." Kellogg has a strong presence in the Omaha metro area; the company and its employees at 96th & F Streets are long-time supporters of the United Way of the Midlands campaign and volunteer days of service. Kellogg Company’s $5.9 million campaign pledge in 2009 was 19% over goal. Kellogg also stepped up with an incremental $600,000 grant to United Way of Greater Battle Creek to address increased basic health and income needs in the Company’s headquarters hometown. Among other outcomes, this grant provided 20 pounds of fresh vegetables weekly to nearly 2,000 people. Further, Kellogg employees across the U.S. held more than 45 food drives that collected more than 47,000 pounds of food. In fact, Kellogg has donated more than 94 million pounds of food, or 66 million meals, over the past five years. In 2009, Kellogg was the first to produce food solely for donation, donating an entire day’s worth of cereal production (3.7 million pounds) to Feeding America, the nation’s largest hunger relief organization. The Company’s innovation continued in a celebrity partnership with Katalyst, a social media studio co-founded by Ashton Kutcher. Kellogg teamed up with Katalyst to spotlight the issue through an innovative online video created with user-generated content and directed by Demi Moore to raise awareness that one out of every eight Americans struggle with hunger. "I wanted to send the Kellogg Company a note of thanks for your ‘day of production.’ The role modeling Kellogg is playing within the food industry will have great influence and consequence," said Bill Bolling, Founder & Executive Director, Atlanta Community Food Bank. "We have talked for years about just such a program and have hoped and prayed that a very significant and well respected company like Kellogg would one day set the example. Our hope is that it will be emulated by others around the world." Kellogg went beyond food donations, spearheading a downtown revitalization effort in Battle Creek, including the expansion of its global nutrition research facility, as well as committing to move more employees downtown, donating a building for potential use as a math and science education center, and partnering with various organizations to bring new businesses and jobs to the community. Kellogg also worked with Action for Healthy Kids to improve healthy eating and physical activity among children around the country. This includes helping dozens of schools nationwide increase the number of kids eating a healthy breakfast at school. Creighton School District in Arizona has increased breakfast participation by more than 230% over last year by serving breakfast in classrooms. Kellogg also partners around the globe, including working with United Way of Mumbai, India to provide meals to underprivileged children, and as a founding partner of The Global FoodBanking Network. "There has probably never been a more critical time for companies and their people to invest in their communities," said David Mackay, President and Chief Executive Officer, Kellogg Company. "I’m very proud of the commitment our company, employees and retirees have to making our communities stronger, in particular with our United Way partnership. On behalf of our entire organization, I’m humbled and honored to accept the United Way Spirit of America Award." In addition to the 2010 Spirit of America Award, United Way presented Summit Awards for exceptional community efforts to: • General Mills, Inc.
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United Way is a worldwide network in 45 countries and territories, including nearly 1,300 local organizations in the U.S. It advances the common good, creating opportunities for a better life for all, by focusing on the three key building blocks of education, income and health. The United Way movement creates long lasting community change by addressing the underlying causes of problems that prevent progress in these areas. LIVE UNITED is a call to action for everyone to become a part of the change. For more information about United Way, please visit: LIVEUNITED.org.
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