FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 24, 2003

Congressional Hunger Center and Victory Wholesale Grocers Offer $1,000 Checks to Twenty Hunger-Fighting Organizations in the U.S.

Washington, DC –  The Congressional Hunger Center and Victory Wholesale Grocers of Springboro, Ohio, and Boca Raton, Florida, are announcing the 2003 Tenth Anniversary “Victory Against Hunger Awards.” The awards are twenty $1,000 grants to be presented to anti-hunger and community-based organizations (including schools, WIC clinics, and Child Care Homes and Centers) around the country engaged in the fight against hunger.

A panel of hunger experts will choose the winners based on their success in achieving the goal expressed by this year’s theme, “Fighting Hunger through Improving Access to or the Quality of any Child Nutrition Program.” This theme was chosen because millions of children are eligible for, but not participating in, federal child nutrition programs and because the low-income children who currently participate need to receive the highest quality meals possible since for many of these children it is their best and only meal of the day. (See reverse side for examples of potential awards)

The annual “Victory Against Hunger Awards” were established by David Kantor, President of Victory Wholesale Grocers, to recognize outstanding organizations in the United States that work to end hunger at the local level. Ten years ago Kantor teamed up with then Congressional Hunger Center Chairman, Rep. Tony Hall, because each believed strongly in the value of keeping members of Congress involved in solving the problem of hunger. CHC’s co-chairs, Rep. Jo Ann Emerson and Rep. James P. McGovern, are now carrying on this noble tradition.

Under the Hunger Awards program, local agencies may only be nominated by a member of Congress. The application process consists of a one or two page letter from a member of Congress to the Congressional Hunger Center highlighting the nominee’s efforts in “Fighting Hunger through Improving Access to or the Quality of any Child Nutrition Program.” The nomination period is April 7th through May 30th. Awards will be made in July. Congressional nomination letters should be addressed to Victory Against Hunger, c/o Congressional Hunger Center, 229 ½ Pennsylvania Ave, SE, Washington, DC 20003. The name and telephone number, including area code, of a contact person from the Congressional office must accompany each nomination.

Previous US Department of Agriculture studies have suggested that low-income children rely upon the lunches they receive at school for 1/3 to 1/2 of their total daily nutrients. These children need access to the nutritious lunches and breakfasts that the US Department of Agriculture provides in preschool, school and after school settings so that they can become healthy students and productive adults. Low-income pregnant women and young children need the nutrition and health benefits of the Women, Infants and Children Program (WIC).

Founded in 1979, Victory Wholesale Grocers is a wholesale distributor of dry groceries and health and beauty care products. Victory is a national company, employing hundreds of people across the country, that distributes to wholesalers and retailers in 49 states, Puerto Rico, and Mexico.

Established in 1993, the Congressional Hunger Center’s mission is to fight hunger by developing leaders who have a shared commitment to a nation and a world free from hunger. It embodies the spirit and goal of the former House Select Committee on Hunger, “to find real solutions to hunger and poverty.” CHC administers the Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellows Program and the Mickey Leland International Hunger Fellows Program.

• Starting an after school snack/meal and enrichment program for at-risk teens
   
• Implementing an innovative nutrition education program at schools, WIC clinics and child care centers and homes
   
• Writing an op-ed on the relationship between hunger and obesity
   
• Initiating a universal type School Breakfast Program
   
• Assisting schools with a “Farm to Cafeteria Project” (getting fresh local produce and fruits incorporated into the local school lunch program)
   
• Developing a model competitive foods or healthy school meals policy for your school
   
• Instituting a better transportation system in a Summer Food Program, thereby allowing more rural poor children to participate 

###