/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ - Today, a diverse group of corporations joined Academy Award Winner and No Kid Hungry® National Campaign Spokesperson Jeff Bridges, Gov. Bob McDonnell (R-VA), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack, Share Our Strength and the Federation of Virginia Food Banks at the official launch of Share Our Strength's Virginia No Kid Hungry® Campaign, a statewide initiative to end childhood hunger in Virginia by 2015.

Made possible by the campaign's lead sponsors - the Walmart Foundation, the Sodexo Foundation and Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States - this unique public-private partnership will help to end childhood hunger in Virginia by connecting low-income children to key nutrition programs, including the Virginia Summer Meals for Kids Program. Dominion Resources is also supporting the campaign.

"The reality is that child hunger isn't just an educational issue or a health issue, it's a moral issue," said Gov. McDonnell. "We must do everything we can to make sure our most vulnerable children are getting regular, nutritious meals, especially during the summer when they are most at risk. Parents can simply call 211 to find a summer meals site near them."

More than 218,000 children and teens in Virginia face hunger, and during the summer, many children are at an even higher risk for both hunger and obesity because they lose access to regular, nutritious school meals. The Virginia Summer Meals for Kids Program, funded by the USDA, provides children free summer meals at many sites across the Commonwealth. However, according to a new report released today by the Food Research and Action Center, more than 80 percent of those eligible for free and reduced-price school meals who can get free summer meals, don't participate.

Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry model elevates the role of public"“private partnerships. In states across the country, the business community is coming to the table with elected officials, government agencies, education leaders and community organizations to find local solutions for local problems.

"The Sodexo Foundation works to ensure that every child has dependable access to nutritious food year-round so they can lead a healthy, productive life," said Robert Stern, president, the Sodexo Foundation. "Our partnership with Share Our Strength on the Virginia No Kid Hungry Campaign offers one more way for us to carry out that mission by providing support through vital programs such as the Virginia Summer Meals Program."

Brooke Mueller, Senior Manager, Public Affairs, Walmart, explained how supporting Share Our Strength's Virginia No Kid Hungry Campaigned aligned with the corporate foundation's CSR efforts. "By partnering with the No Kid Hungry Campaign in Virginia, we are helping shine a spotlight on the important issue of childhood hunger that many children and families across the Commonwealth struggle with every day," she said. "In the last two years, the Walmart Foundation has made a substantial commitment to eradicating hunger across the nation, and our work here today is an important part of that effort."

Maritha Gay, Senior Director of External Affairs for Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States, concurred. "Kaiser Permanente is proud to be a part of the No Kid Hungry Campaign, which provides an inspirational yet practical solution to a big problem," she said. "This program is in perfect alignment with our commitment to prevention and mission to bring total health to the communities we serve. Kaiser Permanente is committed to improving the health of the communities we serve and we are proud to be a part of a program that can benefit children every day."

As part of the Virginia campaign launch, partners are kicking off a summer meals marketing campaign to get the word out to families about free summer meals with outreach materials such as postcards, posters and public service announcements.

"Our focus is on long-term change, the difference between just feeding a child today and making sure no child in the U.S. ever goes hungry again," said Billy Shore, founder and executive director of Share Our Strength. "No Kid Hungry Campaigns provide resources to the most effective anti-hunger organizations and build partnerships that bring together private funders, public officials and nonprofit organizations. We're pleased to be partnering with Gov. McDonnell in this bipartisan effort, and we believe that together we can end childhood hunger in Virginia."

Share Our Strength supports No Kid Hungry Campaigns in 12 other states and will launch five more in 2011.

Share Our Strength's national efforts, including the No Kid Hungry Campaign, are also supported by Core Partners, ConAgra Foods Foundation and Food Network. Go to www.NoKidHungry.org/Virginia to learn more about the Virginia No Kid Hungry Campaign.

About Share Our Strength
Share Our Strength®, a national nonprofit, is ending childhood hunger in America by connecting children with the nutritious food they need to lead healthy, active lives. Through its No Kid Hungry® Campaign - a national effort to end childhood hunger in America by 2015 - Share Our Strength ensures children in need are enrolled in federal nutrition programs, invests in community organizations fighting hunger, teaches families how to cook healthy, affordable meals, and builds public-private partnerships to end hunger, nationally and at the state and city levels. Visit www.Strength.org to get involved.

Available Topic Expert(s): For information on the listed expert(s), click appropriate link.

Bill Shore, https://profnet.prnewswire.com/Subscriber/ExpertProfile.aspx?ei=102548

EDITORS' NOTE: Quotes from Academy Award Winner Jeff Bridges, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack, and the Federation of Virginia Food Banks available upon request.

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