WHAT: In celebration of the fall Richmond race weekend, Smithfield will donate more than 25,000 pounds of protein to FeedMore’s Central Virginia Food Bank as part of the company’s nationwide Helping Hungry Homes tour. This considerable donation, in partnership with Kroger, Richmond International Raceway (RIR), and Richard Petty Motorsports (RPM), will provide more than 100,000 servings to the Central Virginia community, where one in seven people struggle with hunger.
No. 43 driver Aric Almirola, who has partnered with Smithfield’s Helping Hungry Homes program to donate thousands of pounds of protein over recent years, will attend the donation announcement to discuss the importance of these contributions from Smithfield and help raise awareness about the necessity of providing assistance to our neighbors in need.
As part of its ongoing Helping Hungry Homes tour, Smithfield is continuing its fight against hunger by making more than 35 large-scale protein donations across the United States in 2016. Throughout the year, the company is donating more than 3.5 million servings of protein to food banks nationwide to help families and individuals suffering from hunger. To date, the program has provided more than 40 million servings of protein to food banks across America.
Almirola and representatives from Smithfield, Kroger, RIR, and FeedMore will be available for media interviews following the donation announcement. The No. 43 showcar will also be on display, along with RIR giveaways for guests as part of the celebration.
WHEN: Thursday, September 8, 2016 4:00 p.m.
WHERE: Kroger 9000 Staples Mill Rd. Henrico, Va. 23228
More Information While the unemployment rate has begun to drop and more jobs are created, millions of Americans still struggle with food insecurity. According to Feeding America, more than 48 million Americans live in food-insecure households. Food assistance organizations across the country report that individuals and families are turning to them for assistance.
About Smithfield
A leading provider of high-quality pork products, Smithfield was founded in 1936 in Smithfield, Virginia, establishing the town as the “Ham Capital of the World.” From hand-trimmed bacon and slow-smoked holiday hams to marinated tenderloins, Smithfield brings artistry, authenticity and a commitment to heritage, flavor, and handcrafted excellence to everything it produces. With a vast product portfolio including smoked meats, hams, bacon, sausage, ribs, and a wide variety of fresh pork cuts, the company services retail, foodservice, and deli channels across the United States and 30 countries abroad. All of Smithfield’s products meet the highest quality and safety standards in the industry. To learn more about how Flavor Hails from Smithfield, please visit www.Smithfield.com, www.Twitter.com/SmithfieldBrand, and www.Facebook.com/CookingWithSmithfield. Smithfield is a brand of Smithfield Foods.
About Smithfield Foods
Smithfield Foods is a $14 billion global food company and the world’s largest pork processor and hog producer. In the United States, the company is also the leader in numerous packaged meats categories with popular brands including Smithfield®, Eckrich®, Nathan’s Famous®, Farmland®, Armour®, John Morrell®, Cook’s®, Kretschmar®, Gwaltney®, Curly’s®, Margherita®, Carando®, Healthy Ones®, Krakus®, Morliny®, and Berlinki®. Smithfield Foods is committed to providing good food in a responsible way and maintains robust animal care, community involvement, employee safety, environmental and food safety and quality programs. For more information, visit www.smithfieldfoods.com.
About Richard Petty Motorsports
A performance and marketing driven company, Richard Petty Motorsports, co-owned by NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty and successful business entrepreneur Andrew Murstein, is one of the most recognized brands in all of motorsports. With a history of over 200 wins and business partnerships with national and global leaders, today the race operation fields two teams in competition in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with drivers Aric Almirola and Brian Scott. Almirola will return to the iconic No. 43 Ford with partners Smithfield Foods, STP, United States Air Force and the “Fresh From Florida” campaign. Scott will make his debut with the team and drive the Petty Family No. 44 Ford. Albertsons Companies, Shore Lodge, Twisted Tea and GoBowling.com will join Scott as he competes for Rookie of the Year in his first full-time season in the Sprint Cup Series. The team is headquartered in Mooresville, N.C.
About The Kroger Co.
The Kroger Mid-Atlantic division operates 121 stores in the region, which includes North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia and parts of Kentucky, Tennessee and Ohio. The Kroger Co., headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, focuses its charitable efforts on supporting hunger relief, health and wellness initiatives and local organizations in the communities it serves. For more information about Kroger, please visit www.kroger.com.
About Richmond International Raceway
Richmond International Raceway, known as America’s Premier Short Track, offers some great racing action and a commitment to the fan experience. One of the most popular facilities among drivers and fans in all of motorsports, Richmond International Raceway annually hosts two NASCAR Doubleheader weekends, featuring the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NASCAR XFINITY Series, on a ¾-mile D-Shaped oval. The unique layout traditionally produces exciting side-by-side racing, yet drivers reach high enough speeds for a superspeedway feel. For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit rir.com or call 866-455-7223.
