Snickers enlisted the support of actor and chairman of Feeding America's Entertainment Council, David Arquette, who'll spend the better part of two days atop the famed Madison Square Garden Marquee, July 14 and 15. Arquette hopes to raise $250,000 in donations for Feeding America, at a time that is especially trying for the growing number of Americans at risk of hunger, through the Snickers Facebook Page, text messaging and onsite collections.
"The Snickers brand has always satisfied hunger," said Carole Walker, vice president, integrated marketing communications for Mars Snackfood US. "The 'Bar Hunger' campaign is designed to draw attention to a very real challenge facing America. But this charitable effort is about more than putting a logo on our wrapper. We want people to join the effort and help in any way they can."
Snickers has teamed with Arquette because of his passionate participation in the fight against hunger. Aside from his role as the first-ever chairman of Feeding America's Entertainment Council, he also regularly volunteers at a food bank in Venice, Calif.
"I've seen first hand the impact of hunger, which is why campaigns like 'Bar Hunger' are so critical," said David Arquette. "But Snickers and I can't do it alone. We need to educate all Americans about this issue and mobilize them to do something. The only way we can truly 'Bar Hunger' is together."
In addition to the donation that Snickers will make to Feeding America, the brand also worked with the nonprofit to provide opportunities for other Americans to support the cause, including:
Snickers will match every donationup to a total of $25,000made to Feeding America via the Snickers Facebook Page, www.facebook.com/snickers, beginning July 14; People can make a $5.00 donation to Feeding America by texting the word "BAR" to 90999** from July 14 through December 31, 2009; Consumers can make a cash donation of any size on July 14 and 15 outside Madison Square Garden As the nation's largest domestic hunger-relief charity, Feeding America feeds 25 million Americans at risk of hunger each year through a nationwide network of food banks and engages the country in the fight to end hunger. "We're very thankful for the support of Snickers," said Vicki Escarra, president and CEO of Feeding America. "The dedication of our corporate partners like Snickers, as well as individuals like David Arquette, is critical for us to generate awareness about hunger, as well as continue to provide food to millions of Americans each year who would otherwise go hungry."
For more information about the Bar Hunger campaign, visit the Snickers Facebook Page atwww.facebook.com/snickers or www.barhunger.com.
Headquartered in Hackettstown, NJ, Mars Snackfood US is the United States snack operations of Mars, Incorporated. Mars, Incorporated is a private, family-owned company founded in 1911 and employs 70,000 associates at 250 sites, including 151 factories, in 67 countries worldwide. Headquartered in McLean, Virginia, U.S.A., Mars, Incorporated is one of the world's largest food companies, generating global revenues of more than $30 billion annually and operating in six business segments: Chocolate, Petcare, Wrigley, Food, Drinks, and Symbioscience. These segments produce some of the world's leading brands: M&M'S, Snickers, Dove, Galaxy, Mars, Milky Way and Twix; Wrigley, Orbit, Extra, Starburst, Doublemint and Skittles; Pedigree, Whiskas, Sheba, Cesar and Royal Canin; Uncle Ben's, Dolmio, Ebly, Masterfoods and Seeds of Change; Klix and Flavia; Wisdom Panel Mx, Seramis and Cocoapro.
Feeding America, formerly America's Second HarvestThe Nation's Food Bank Network, Feeding America provides low-income individuals and families with the fuel to survive and even thrive. As the nation's leading domestic hunger-relief charity, our network members supply food to more than 25 million Americans each year, including 9 million children and 3 million seniors. Serving the entire United States, more than 200 member food banks operate 63,000 agencies that address hunger in all of its forms.
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