Iconic Brands like Chipotle Mexican Grill,Denny's, Inspire Brands, Fogo de Chão, Jack in the Box, Macy's,Inc. and Tropical Smoothie Cafe Pioneering the Effort
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WASHINGTON, Aug. 1, 2024/PRNewswire/ -- No Kid Hungry, a national campaign focused onending childhood hunger in the U.S. announced today theCEOPledge to End Summer Hunger, anational movement uniting CEOs across industries to help increasethe reach of summer meals programs from 2.8 to 30 million children.CEOs and top executives who are among the first to champion theeffort include: ChristineBarone, CEO & President, Dutch Bros Coffee;Paul Brown, Co-Founder &CEO, Inspire Brands; NoahGlass, Founder & CEO, Olo; Darin Harris, CEO, Jack in the Box;Barry McGowan, CEO, Fogo deChão; Danny Meyer, Founder& Executive Chairman, Union Square Hospitality Group;Brian Niccol, Chairman &CEO, Chipotle Mexican Grill; TonySpring, Chairman & CEO, Macy's, Inc.;Kelli Valade, President &CEO, Denny's and CharlesWatson, CEO, Tropical Smoothie Cafe.
One in five kids in America lives with hunger. And for childrenwho rely on free or reduced priced meals at school, summer can bethe hungriest time of year. A recent survey revealed that 41% ofparents struggle in some way to provide food for their householdwhen kids are out of school. Without access to nutrition during thesummer months, it is that much harder for kids to return to schoolready to learn.
"Feeding children and feeding our communities should be a toppriority," says Barry McGowan, CEOof Fogo de Chão. "As a food industry veteran, I understand thevalue of making sure people have enough to eat. That's why I'mproud to unite behind the CEO pledge to end summer hunger. There isstrength in numbers and together, we can make sure every child inAmerica is fed. Join us in this critical mission."
Edelman's 2024 Trust Barometer Report reveals that 62% of peopleexpect CEOs to address societal issues. Pledge champions understandthat. These top executives are putting their competitive spiritaside to help tackle hunger by 1) Mobilizing their brandsand industries to help No Kid Hungry raise $50M over the next three years, 2) Lendingtheir time and influence to raise awareness and 3)Advocating for change by celebrating and supporting policiesthat ensure kids have access to food all year-round.
"As business leaders, we have a shared responsibility to build anation where every child is set up for success, and that startswith making sure they are nourished," said Charles Watson, CEO of Tropical SmoothieCafe. "This is not just a moral imperative but it's also astrategic vision that drives our entire network of franchises toraise funds for No Kid Hungry. I am honored to join my peersto help rewrite history and make summer hunger a thing of thepast."
Thanks to bipartisan legislation long advocated for by No KidHungry, 30 million children stand to benefit from the USDA's newand monumental changes to the summer meals program. Traditionalsummer meals programs were only reaching 13% of the kids thatneeded them due to accessibility barriers liketransportation.
The new programs offer flexible options like multi-day mealdistribution and deliveries that reach kids in remote and ruralareas. Secondly, eligible families will receive $120 in grocery benefits for each eligible child.No Kid Hungry is leading the effort to roll out these changes andis planning on raising and investing $50million over the next three years to help schools, communityorganizations and state agencies get the resources they need toimplement the new programs this and every year.
"The expansion of the summer meals program is a huge win, butsummer hunger will only end if local communities have the resourcesto implement these new programs" said KelliValade, Denny's president and CEO. "I'm excited to build onour fourteen-year partnership with No Kid Hungry and our love offeeding people to make sure our nation's children have the summersthey deserve – free of hunger. I call on my peers to join us – thetime is now."
"No Kid Hungry's promise is that every child in every communitygets the nutrition they need year-round," said Anne Filipic, CEO at Share Our Strength, theorganization behind the No Kid Hungry campaign. "We have amonumental opportunity to address the longstanding challenge ofsummer hunger and are inspired by our pledge champions whor*cognize the importance of using their resources and influence tohelp us meet this moment."
The restaurant industry leaders that make up No Kid Hungry'sDine Advisory Board are the architects behind the CEO pledge. Theyare rallying the industry to raise half of the needed investment -$25 million over the next threeyears. Learn more at NoKidHungry.org/ceopledge.
About No Kid Hungry
No child should go hungry in America. But millions of kids inthe United States live withhunger. No Kid Hungry is working to end childhood hunger by helpinglaunch and improve programs that give all kids the healthy foodthey need to thrive. This is a problem we know how to solve. No KidHungry is a campaign of Share Our Strength, an organizationcommitted to ending hunger and poverty. Join us atNoKidHungry.org.
Media contact
Allison deBrauwere Ruta, aruta@strength.org
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SOURCE No Kid Hungry
