2009.01.06
Pound for Pound Challenge teams up with popular TV show
It's not every day that a national television show as popular as the Biggest Loser offers its star power to a worthy cause, but that is exactly what Jillian, Bob, and the rest of the cast of season seven's Biggest Loser will do when the show premieres tonight at 8 p.m.
The Pound for Pound Challenge is teaming up the Southwestern Virginia Second Harvest Food Bank, the Biggest Loser, General Mills and local residents to help the hungry by losing weight, and eating healthy. The handout reads:
Biggest Loser Debuts Pound For Pound Challenge to Help Ease Hunger Crisis
Southwest Virginia–Watch hunger take the main stage as the season seven premiere of the Biggest Loser airs tonight! The Southwestern Virginia Second Harvest Food Bank today announced a new partnership with Feeding America, General Mills and The Biggest Loser: The Pound For Pound Challenge. For every pound participating dieters in southwest Virginia pledge to lose in the new year, General Mills will donate 10 cents to the Food Bank. Funds will be distributed through Feeding America.
Those who wish to participate can visit www.swvafoodbank.org and click on the Pound for Pound challenge icon to enter their weight loss goals to join the Challenge. Participants can pledge to lose weight from December 15, 2008 to April 27, 2009
The Pound for Pound challenge serves two purposes – it provides a fun, interactive structure for losing weight and helps to raise critically-needed funds for the SWVA Second Harvest Food Bank and more than 200 other food banks throughout the nation that are part of the Feeding America network.
Demand for emergency assistance at food pantries, soup kitchens and other feeding programs is at an all-time high, as the nation struggles through tough economic times.
It is estimated that 130 million people are overweight in the United States. According to the USDA, more than 36 million Americans live in “food insecure households” – meaning that they do not always know where they will find their next meal. There are more than 285,000 people struggling with hunger in southwestern Virginia alone.
Click more below to continue reading the handout.
“We provide food for about 100,000 people each month in our region and the number of people in need just keeps growing. We are so pleased that General Mills and the Biggest Loser have come up with such a creative way to help raise more than just money, this popular TV show will raise the nations hunger awareness significantly,” said Pamela Irvine, President and CEO of the Southwestern Virginia Second Harvest Food Bank.
Grocery shoppers also can look for Pound For Pound seals on specially-marked General Mills products. For each seal mailed in, General Mills will also donate 10 cents to Feeding America. General Mills brands carrying the seal include Cheerios®, Green Giant®, Yoplait Light®, and many others.
Seals will appear on select products for a limited time only. Between the donations for weight loss pledges and product seals, General Mills will contribute up to $775,000 to Feeding America during the Pound For Pound Challenge.
Feeding America will distribute the funds to local food banks based on the zip codes of consumers who participate in the program, so the areas of the United States that participate most actively in the Pound For Pound Challenge stand to benefit most from the donations.
“General Mills has a long-standing commitment to nutrition and wellness, and we’re thrilled to support a cause that will not only provide hunger relief but also encourage Americans to get healthier,” said John Haugen, vice president, Health and Wellness at General Mills. “By joining the Challenge, Americans are helping themselves while helping the one in eight Americans who struggle with hunger.”
The Pound For Pound Challenge starts in January with the launch of season seven of The Biggest Loser and lasts until the season concludes in May. Viewers will get updates on the Pound For Pound Challenge throughout the show’s season.
“Our show inspires so many people to commit to a healthier lifestyle, and we’re excited that motivation will help secure millions of pounds of groceries for local food banks,” said Bob Harper, trainer on The Biggest Loser. “Starting January 6, viewers will watch as the show’s contestants also commit to their own health, and throughout the season viewers will learn how their own weight loss efforts are helping provide millions of pounds of food for others.”
To join the Challenge or contribute directly to the Southwestern Virginia Second Harvest Food Bank visit www.swvafoodbank.org.
About Southwestern Virginia Second Harvest Food Bank
The SWVA Second Harvest Food Bank was founded in 1981 and is an affiliate member of Feeding America (formerly America’s Second Harvest). The Food Bank’s ultimate mission is to eliminate hunger in the region. The primary function of the Food Bank is to secure large quantities of food for the hungry. More than 11-million pounds of food is channeled through a network of more than 350 partner feeding programs (in a 26-county and 10-city region) that provide food or meals to those in need annually. The Food Bank is rated Four out of Four stars by CharityNavigator.org. Visit www.swvafoodbank.org for more information.
About General Mills
One of the world's leading food companies, General Mills operates in over 100 countries and markets more than 100 consumer brands, including Cheerios, Haagen-Dazs, Nature Valley, Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, Green Giant, Old El Paso, Progresso, Cascadian Farm, Muir Glen, and more. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.A., General Mills had FY2008 global net sales of US$ 14.9 billion, including the company’s $1.2 billion proportionate share of joint venture net sales.
About The Biggest Loser
The Biggest Loser, an unscripted and life-altering reality series challenges and encourages overweight contestants to shed pounds in a safe and recommended manner through comprehensive diet and exercise as they compete for a grand prize of $250,000. Contestants gather from across the country to face real-life temptations, while being provided with approved weight-loss skills and resources in an effort to help them transform their bodies, health -- and ultimately -- their lives.
About Feeding America
Feeding America provides low-income individuals and families with the fuel to survive and even thrive. As the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief charity, our network members supply food to more than 25 million Americans each year, including 9 million children and 3 million seniors. Serving the entire United States, more than 200 member food banks operate 63,000 agencies that address hunger in all of its forms. For more information on how you can fight hunger in your community and across the country, visit www.feedingamerica.org.
For interviews or questions about the Pound for Pound Challenge simply call or email Jeremy Butterfield using the information below.
Jeremy Butterfield/Communications & Public Relations Coordinator
Southwestern Virginia Second Harvest Food Bank
Address: 1025 Electric Road, Salem, VA 24153
http://www.swvafoodbank.org <http://www.swvafoodbank.org/>
Phone Number: (540) 342-3011 x23
Submitted and written by Jeremy Butterfield
