Los Angeles, Calif – November 26, 2018 – The Los Angeles Chargers team up with Lift Up America and Tyson Foods, Inc. to tackle one of Los Angeles’ most pressing issues – feeding the hungry, on Tuesday, November 27 at StubHub Center in Carson. Speakers at the 11 a.m. news conference to launch the food distribution event include LaDainian Tomlinson, Chargers Pro Football Hall of Fame running back and NFL Network Analyst; Dave Hannah, Founder and Chairman, Lift Up America; and Michael Flood, President and CEO, Los Angeles Regional Food Bank.
Los Angeles Charger players, Charger Girls and football players from Carson High, Segerstrom High and Paramount High School teams are volunteering on Tuesday, November 27 to distribute the truckload of Tyson donated protein to partner agencies served by the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. “The Los Angeles Chargers are dedicated to building healthy communities for our region’s youth,” said Heather Birdsall, Director of Community Partnerships “We are proud to partner with Lift Up America, Tyson Foods, and The LA Regional Food Bank to ensure that families in our community have access to healthy, nutritious food.”
For over a decade, Lift Up America has partnered with corporations, professional and college sports teams and non-profit organizations to serve people in need. "We are fortunate to work with The Los Angeles Chargers and Tyson Foods again this year to support the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank” said Eric Hannah, President of Lift Up America. “Through these programs to fight hunger, we encourage youth, such as the high school football team members volunteering for the food distribution, to help those in need in their communities and become Ambassadors of Compassion,”
“We’re proud to help great partners like the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank and Lift Up America, who work on the front lines every day to end hunger,” said Matt Pakula, Senior Manager of Corporate Social Responsibility at Tyson Foods. “Too many Californians and Americans are food insecure, and although the problem is complex, the answer starts with getting involved and creating awareness.”
The need for food assistance remains high. In L.A. County as nearly 1.4 million people face food insecurity. “This donation of protein, a key food group for a healthy diet, is very important to the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank and to the clients we serve,” said Michael Flood, the Food Bank’s President and CEO. “Protein can be an expensive food item to purchase and is often difficult for families to access.”
About Tyson Foods, Inc.
Tyson Foods Inc. (NYSE: TSN) is one of the world’s largest food companies and a recognized leader in protein. Founded in 1935 by John W. Tyson and grown under three generations of family leadership, the company has a broad portfolio of products and brands like Tyson®, Jimmy Dean®, Hillshire Farm®, Ball Park®, Wright®, Aidells®, ibp® and State Fair®. Tyson Foods innovates continually to make protein more sustainable, tailor food for everywhere it’s available and raise the world’s expectations for how much good food can do. Headquartered in Springdale, Arkansas, the company had 121,000 team members at September 29, 2018. Through its Core Values, Tyson Foods strives to operate with integrity, create value for its shareholders, customers, communities and team members and serve as a steward of the animals, land and environment entrusted to it. Visit www.tysonfoods.com.
About Lift Up America
Lift Up America, founded in 2004, is a non-profit organization that collaborates with corporations, professional and college sports teams and local nonprofit agencies to help our nation’s less fortunate. For more information about Lift Up America, please visit LiftUpAmerica.org. Lift Up America is focused on expanding its Ambassador of Compassion program across the U.S. The interactive leadership program for youth, Ambassadors of Compassion helps transform junior-high and high-school aged youth into resilient, confident individuals motivated to embrace a strong work ethic and continued giving service in their communities.
About the Los Angeles Chargers
For 57 seasons, the Chargers have led the fight to stretch the imagination and give fans the most exciting show in football. Behind the dramatic games, unforgettable highlights, beloved players, groundbreaking performances and one of the best uniforms in the NFL lies an uncompromising drive for success – one rooted in toughness, resilience and old-fashioned hard work. A charter member of the American Football League, the franchise was established in Los Angeles in 1960 and called the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum home during its first year of existence. From 1961 to 2016, the team played in San Diego. Advancing to five of the first six AFL Championship games ever played, the Chargers claimed the 1963 title and later joined the National Football League when the two leagues merged in 1970. Since the merger, the Chargers have gone on to appear in Super Bowl XXIX and have captured an additional 10 division titles. The Chargers were purchased by construction leader and real estate developer Alex G. Spanos in 1984 and have been under the guidance of Spanos’ eldest son Dean, the team’s current Chairman of the Board, since 1994. Dean Spanos’ sons – A.G. Spanos, President of Business Operations, and John Spanos, President of Football Operations – oversee the day-to-day operations of the franchise. The Chargers returned to Los Angeles in 2017 and will play all home games at StubHub Center while the new L.A. Stadium and Entertainment District at Hollywood Park is constructed. chargers.com.
About Los Angeles Regional Food Bank
The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank has worked to fight hunger in Los Angeles County since 1973 and has distributed the equivalent of more than 1 billion meals across our community. The Food Bank provides food to more than 300,000 clients on a monthly basis and distributed 70 million pounds of food in 2017 to children, seniors, working families, veterans and other neighbors in need. To support the vision that no one goes hungry in Los Angeles County, nutritious food is distributed through a network of more than 600 partner agencies, directly to children through our Children’s Backpack and Summer Lunch programs, to approximately 27,000 seniors each month through our Senior Nutrition program and to working families and college students through our Mobile Food Pantry. The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank is a 4-star rated charity by Charity Navigator. For more information, visit lafoodbank.org.
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Media Contacts:
Derek Burleson, Tyson Foods, 479-290-6466
Courtney Morra, Los Angeles Food Bank, 323-234-3030 ext. 196
Heather Birdsall, Los Angeles Chargers, 657-356-2062
Nancy Walters, Lift Up America, 858-485-1171