LIFT UP AMERICA, CLEVELAND INDIANS, TYSON FOODS, GREATER CLEVELAND FOOD BANK AND INSURANCE PARTNERS AGENCY TEAM UP TO HOST FOOD DRIVE AT PROGRESSIVE FIELD

Tyson Foods to provide more than 30,000 pounds of protein to Cleveland-area food pantries

WHAT: The Cleveland Indians will give service to their community on Friday, September 14, helping Lift Up America fight domestic hunger. Through a generous donation from Tyson Foods, presenting sponsor Insurance Partners Agency will volunteer in distributing more than 30,000 pounds of the product through the Greater Cleveland Food Banks member agencies in the region.

WHERE: The Plaza at Progressive Field

2401 Ontario St, Cleveland, OH 44115

WHEN: Friday, September 14, 2018

12 p.m. Press Conference

12:15 p.m. Tyson Foods Distribution Kick-Off

WHY: The event is significant because:

• One in four children—and one in six people—in Greater Cleveland lives in a food-insecure household, that means that they do not consistently know where their next meal is coming from.

• Cleveland has one of the highest rates of childhood poverty. Nutritious food is critical for children of all incomes, as it affects both their health and ability to learn.

• For the more than 330,000 Northeast Ohioans who struggle with hunger at any given point, the support of the Greater Cleveland Food Bank and its partner agencies is an important lifeline. The Food Bank provides meals for more than 247,000 people a year throughout our six-county service area, in partnership with more than 800 pantries, hot meal sites and partners.

• Feeding America named September Hunger Action Month

• Since 2000, Tyson Foods has donated more than 100 million pounds of protein – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtpYwfRjLdc

Photo Opportunities

• Food Drive co-founder, Tom Gimper, continues to direct food distribution operations while encouraging and training volunteers for the 1th consecutive year.

• 100+ volunteers will take over the plaza to load 30,000 pounds of frozen chicken into Food Bank’s member agencies’ vehicles. Annual food drive sponsor Insurance Partners Agency provides participants with imprinted shirts to thank them and recognize the cause, unified effort, and importance of serving others.

• Speakers will address the issue of hunger in our area and the importance of nutritious food for those in need. Representatives from each participating organization will be available for interviews including Karen Dolan, representing the Cleveland Indians Ownership.

• Slider will be on hand to greet guests and help load the chicken.

Full news release is available.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Derek Burleson, Tyson Foods, 479-290-6466, Derek.Burleson@Tyson.com

Joel Hammond, Cleveland Indians, 216-420-4436, jhammond@indians.com

Carolyn Newberry, Greater Cleveland Food Bank, 216-548-5338, cnewberry@clevelandfoodbank.org

Cindi Lorenz, Insurance Partners Agency, 216-401-7152, clorenz@inspartners.com