Media Center

Food Network and Share Our Strength Join Forces to End Childhood Hunger in America

Network and Charity Enter Into Exclusive, Multi-Year Partnership

NEW YORK, May 8, 2007 – Share Our Strength, one of the nation’s leading organizations working to end childhood hunger in America, will launch its fourth annual Great American Bake Sale campaign on May 19. Share Our Strength’s Great American Bake Sale is a national campaign that mobilizes people of all ages to help end childhood hunger in America by holding bake sales in their communities. Since 2003, the campaign has raised over $3 million and engaged more than 1 million people in baking, selling or buying goods.

“The Great American Bake Sale campaign provides a simple, exciting way for people of all ages to join the fight to end childhood hunger in America,” said Billy Shore, Share Our Strength’s founder and executive director. “The campaign builds on the long American tradition of holding bake sales as community fundraisers. By engaging everyone to hold a bake sale, the Great American Bake Sale will help ensure that the 12.4 million American children at risk of hunger have the healthy, nutritious foods they need to develop their full potential.”

The scientifically recognized consequences of hunger are both devastating and lifelong: poorer overall health, reduced social and psychological well-being, and lower academic achievement. Share Our Strength’s Great American Bake Sale provides a fun and easy way for individuals, families, businesses, students and organizations to make a difference for those children at risk of hunger.

Funds raised through Share Our Strength’s Great American Bake Sale are granted to local organizations that work to increase participation by low-income children in summer and after-school feeding programs and to support nutrition education programs for low-income families. Funds will be used to support such efforts as purchasing equipment and utensils to serve children meals, covering the cost of opening additional meal sites, hiring additional staff to serve children meals, or paying for outreach that informs parents about the availability of summer meals and after school snacks.

As part of a new, exclusive, multi-year charitable partnership with Food Network, this year’s campaign will be supported by Food Network PSA’s featuring network stars Rachael Ray, Sandra Lee and Tyler Florence. As national television partner, Food Network will also feature an “In the Kitchen” Bake Sale on May 19 during its popular daytime programming block. The special bake sale will include shows like Paula’s Home Cooking, hosted by Paula Deen, Tyler’s Ultimate featuring Tyler Florence, and Healthy Appetite with Ellie Krieger.

As an extra incentive, this year’s top bake sale fundraiser will win a trip for two to Food Network, tickets to a taping of Emeril Live!, and a behind-the-scenes tour of the Food Network Kitchens, all to help end childhood hunger in America.

Registration for Share Our Strength’s Great American Bake Sale is free and available at www.greatamericanbakesale.org.

If you liked this, please help us spread the word by sharing it with others.