Grant Helps 10,000 Camden Area Youth, 25 Nonprofit Organizations
CAMDEN, N.J., Jun 02, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) —
Campbell Soup Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Campbell Soup Company (NYSE:CPB), announced today that it will donate $385,000 to fund 10,000 Camden-area youth attend summer programs run by 25 nonprofit organizations.
Through the grants, the Foundation will support summer camp programs that focus on academics, career exploration, arts and culture and recreation, providing opportunities for children to participate in a variety of activities in the summer when they might otherwise be idle.
Jerry Buckley, Chairman of the Campbell Soup Foundation, said, “Our Summer Program is one of our most rewarding traditions. Through the years, it has improved the lives of hundreds of thousands of Camden’s children through a wide range of fun and educational activities. We’re pleased that we can continue this long tradition with our partners in the community.”
At the kick-off event, students participated in physical and educational activities run by staff of the Y of Burlington and Camden Counties. This school-health program called CATCH (Coordinated Approach to Child Health) is designed to encourage healthy food choices and 30 minutes of moderate to strenuous physical activity every day. CATCH is one of several programs Campbell is supporting through its recently launched $10-million commitment to reduce childhood obesity and hunger by 50 percent among Camden’s 23,000 children.
Several new organizations received first-time grants from the Foundation for the 2011 Summer Program, including:
Buckley was joined for the announcement by 50 representatives from 25 Camden-area nonprofit organizations. About 40 students from Holy Name School attended the event at the Campbell Employee Center courtyard.
The Campbell Soup Foundation has a long history of sponsoring summer programs for Camden children. Over its 37-year history, the Foundation’s Summer Program has granted more than $11 million to local organizations that have provided constructive summers to more than 500,000 Camden youth. The Foundation is dedicated to supporting organizations that inspire positive change in the communities where Campbell operates, especially its hometown of Camden.
Campbell is the longest-standing corporate tenant in Camden and the only Fortune 500 Company headquartered in the city. The company has long been involved with programs designed to improve the health and physical activity of children, including Labels for Education, the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, the Children’s Advertising Initiative and the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation. Campbell recently unveiled plans to reduce childhood obesity and hunger in Camden. The company will invest $10 million over ten years with a focus on providing increased access to affordable, healthy food, expanding availability of and participation in physical activity and physical education and increasing nutrition and health education. Through its “Nourishing” corporate social responsibility program, Campbell has been recognized for making a positive impact in the workplace, in the marketplace and in the communities in which it operates. Campbell’s Corporate Social Responsibility report can be accessed at www.thecampbellscompany.com/csr
About Campbell Soup Company
Campbell Soup Company is a global manufacturer and marketer of high-quality foods and simple meals, including soup and sauces, baked snacks and healthy beverages. Founded in 1869, the company has a portfolio of market-leading brands, including “Campbell’s,” “Pepperidge Farm,” “Arnott’s” and “V8.” Through its corporate social responsibility program, the company strives to make a positive impact in the workplace, in the marketplace and in the communities in which it operates. Campbell is a member of the Standard & Poor’s 500 and the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes. For more information, visit www.campbellsoup.com.
SOURCE: Campbell Soup Foundation
Campbell Soup FoundationAmanda Bauman, 856-342-5264orBellevue Communications GroupSusan Buehler, 215-893-4284