SPRINGDALE, AR. — More than 32 million people in the U.S. are food insecure, according to Feeding America. And with the troubled economy, the demand at food banks has increased more than 30% in 2008. This is among the reasons hunger relief remains a top priority for Tyson Foods Inc.

In fiscal 2008, Tyson donated approximately 12 million lbs. of chicken, beef and pork to more than 50 food banks in 27 states across the country. The company has also donated millions of dollars in cash to help various non-profit organizations across the country. For these efforts, Forbes magazine's most-recent listing of America’s Most Generous Corporations ranked Tyson Foods the second most-proportionally generous company. The company gave 1.6% of its operating income, or $8 million.

Tyson Foods was a leader in supplying food to people in Texas, Iowa and other states hit hard with flooding and hurricanes. Iowa received several truckload donations to 26 communities after the flooding in April. In September, Tyson sent a convoy of 26 semi trucks carrying 3.2 million meals of chicken, beef and pork to the states of Texas, Iowa, Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi to restock the local food banks.

The company also partnered with national organizations and professional and collegiate athletic teams to raise awareness for hunger relief. Tyson facilities and team members throughout the country also raise funds and awareness for the fight against childhood hunger through a program called Powering the Spirit.

Local volunteers who bring food directly to families through the Tyson Hunger All-Star Award are honored by the company. This award was given to eight people who were nominated for their significant impact on hunger relief in their hometown.

"With the donations made this year by Tyson, more than 40 million meals were distributed through food banks and their local agencies," said Ed Nicholson, director of community relations for Tyson Foods. "Despite tough economic times Tyson Foods remains steadfast in its efforts to end hunger in the United States."

Since 2000, Tyson hunger relief efforts have provided more than 240 million meals to citizens across the country through 54 million lbs. of donated protein.

Tyson Foods was also a sponsor of this year's Register’s Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa. The company pledged more than 500 lbs. of food per mile of the ride to affiliate food banks of Feeding America. Equal to seven truckloads of food totaling 250,000 lbs., the donation powered more than 1 million meals for Iowans in need.

To help kick-off the 2009 fiscal year, Tyson donated 1 millions lbs. of food to Feeding America affiliate food banks, which was shipped to 24 cities across the U.S.

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