Minnesota Vikings, Hunger Solutions Minnesota and Second Harvest Heartland to Announce Partnership to Help Feed Hungry Children This Summer
May 26, 2009
Vikings quarterback
WHAT: The Minnesota Vikings, Hunger Solutions Minnesota and Second
Harvest Heartland will hold a school assembly and news conference
regarding the Vikings Children's Fund Summer Lunch Program, an
initiative designed to increase the number of meals distributed to
Minnesota children this summer.
While approximately 270,000 Minnesota school children receive free
or reduced-price meals during the school year, only about 20
percent of them -- or 54,000 -- receive meals during the summer
despite the fact that a federally funded summer meals program
exists. A first-of-its-kind program, the Vikings Children's Fund
Summer Lunch Program aims to significantly increase Minnesota
participation in the USDA's existing Summer Food Service Program,
which is administered by the Minnesota Department of Education.
Additional details on the Vikings Children's Fund Summer Lunch
Program will be disclosed at the news conference.
In advance of the news conference, the Minnesota Vikings will host
a "Fuel up to Play" school assembly, at which Vikings players and
cheerleaders will encourage school children to eat well and
exercise to stay healthy and strong all year round.
WHO: News conference speakers will include Steve LaCroix, vice
president of sales and marketing and chief marketing officer
with the Minnesota Vikings; Alice Seagren, commissioner of
the Minnesota Department of Education; Julie Paradis,
administrator of the Food and Nutrition Service with the
USDA; and Rob Zeaske, executive director of Second Harvest
Heartland. Other news conference attendees will include Laura
Cavender, principal of Cityview Performing Arts Magnet
School, and Nicole Barron, accounting and business systems
manager in Food Service with Minneapolis Public Schools.
School assembly participants will include Vikings quarterback
Tarvaris Jackson and defensive ends Jayme Mitchell and Ray
Edwards; the Vikings cheerleaders; Viktor, the Vikings
mascot; and 125 school children from Cityview Performing Arts
Magnet School.
WHEN: Wednesday, May 27
2:15 PM "Fuel up to Play" school assembly with Minnesota
Vikings
2:45 PM News conference
WHERE: Cityview Performing Arts Magnet School
3350 North 4th Street
Minneapolis, MN 55412
612-668-2270
**Take Hwy. 94 and exit on Dowling Avenue to avoid the Lowry
Avenue bridge closure. The news conference will take place in
the school's cafeteria, which is located on the lower level
of the school. Media should park in the lot to the south of
the school for easy access.
SOURCE Minnesota Vikings
Source: newswire