Unilever fights to wipe out hunger

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J. — Unilever has donated nearly $850,000 and three million pounds of Unilever brand products to Feeding America, the nation's leading hunger-relief organization, in 2012.



The financial contribution comes from joint cause marketing programs and support from the Unilever United States Foundation.



Feeding America is a nationwide network of food banks feeding more than 37 million people each year through food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters in communities nationwide. Unilever is a mission partner of the charity organization, and has contributed more than 20 million pounds of product throughout the past five years, including food and personal care items such as Dove, Suave and Lipton, as well as $2.7 million to help Feeding America provide more food to people in need.



“Unilever is committed to fighting hunger in the US and improving the lives and well-being of the people in communities where we work and live. Our long-standing partnership with Feeding America underscores this commitment and supports Unilever’s Sustainable Living Plan,” said Jonathan Atwood, VP, sustainable living and corporate communications for Unilever. “A number of our employees are volunteering at local food banks and donating to Unilever’s company-wide food bank drive which was held across three office locations and 23 manufacturing sites.”



Unilever has contributed to Feeding America through a variety of national cause-related marketing campaigns supported by notable Unilever brands including Hellmann’s, Ragu and Knorr. Currently, Unilever is supporting the organization through its Cross Off Hunger campaign helping to donate two million meals to it and raising awareness of items needed at local food banks.



In addition, The Unilever U.S. Foundation is supporting Feeding America’s child hunger programs and providing food to children who may be facing hunger in communities where Unilever employees work and live. The foundation is reaching children at times when they are most in need: in the summer, afterschool, at home, and over weekends and during school vacations. In 2012, the Unilever U.S. Foundation helped support Feeding America’s child hunger programming by donating $225,000 with a portion of this gift providing ten $20,000 grants to member food banks, enabling them to start, sustain or expand their child hunger-relief programs including Kids Cafe, BackPack, Afterschool Snack, School Pantry and the Summer Food Service Program.