hicago, IL, August 18, 2009 -- Today, Ford Motor Company and Newman’s Own, Inc. announced their continued commitment to combat hunger by extending their partnership with Feeding America – the nation’s largest domestic hunger relief organization. This month, through the “Partnership for Hunger Relief,” Ford Motor Company and Newman’s Own, Inc. will donate seven refrigerated trucks, bringing their donation total to 89 trucks in 42 states since the partnership began nine years ago.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 2008 report of food insecurity indicated that 36.2 million Americans live in households considered to be food insecure; one in eight Americans are at risk of hunger.

The partnership's refrigerated truck fleet has traveled more than 4.6 million miles – the equivalent of almost 200 trips around the world – providing perishable food to communities that are at risk. To date, the partnership has delivered 125 million pounds of food, the equivalent of nearly 98 million meals.

Vicki Escarra, president and CEO, Feeding America, said, “Last year alone, our nation’s food banks saw a 30 percent increase in demand due to the economic downturn. We at Feeding America would not be able to feed over 25 million people a year without the generous support of corporations like Newman’s Own and Ford Motor Company.”

The “Partnership for Hunger Relief” began nine years ago when Paul Newman called Ford Motor Company Executive Chairman Bill Ford and asked if Ford would join with Newman’s Own, Inc. and Feeding America in addressing the growing problem of hunger in rural America. To learn more, just search for “Feeding America” and/or “Partnership for Hunger Relief” on the Internet.