To touch the lives of approximately 500,000 people in need, Kraft Foods (NYSE: KFT) is holding its first-ever global week of service called "Make a Delicious Difference Week," Oct. 5 - 10. The new effort will fight hunger, support healthy lifestyles and build stronger communities with help from more than 10,000 employees in 32 countries.

Among the first to sign up to volunteer was Chairman and CEO of Kraft Foods, Irene Rosenfeld. "We may be best known for making delicious foods, like Oreo cookies and Jacobs coffee, but 'delicious' means much more than that," said Rosenfeld. "We're unleashing the power of our global workforce to make a delicious difference in the communities where we do business. This will be the single largest volunteer effort in our history."

Serving Up the Spirit of Service When Needed Most
To encourage people in the U.S. to lend a hand, the new Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act takes effect on Oct. 1, just days before the company's global volunteer effort. The renewed focus on giving back is critical in this economic downturn, as nearly three-quarters of Americans cut back on civic participation, including volunteering, according to the National Conference on Citizenship.

"For years we've provided employees with opportunities to give back to their communities," Rosenfeld explained. "But, given the increased needs, we can all do more. We're doing our part by doubling our U.S. volunteer efforts and taking the spirit of the Serve America Act across U.S. borders to employees from France to Indonesia."

To supplement its employees' efforts, the Kraft Foods Foundation will match U.S. employee cash contributions to nonprofits on a two-to-one basis throughout the week.

A Delicious Difference Around the World
Across the globe, the company will partner with organizations including Feeding America and Save the Children. And, 150 employee ambassadors around the world are recruiting colleagues and planning a menu of projects.

Participating U.S. communities include Chicago; Livermore; Calif., Madison, Wis.; Miami; Springfield, Mo.; San Antonio; Tarrytown, N.Y.; Washington and 50 other cities. Argentina, Australia, Canada, China, Colombia, Denmark, Germany, Philippines, Russia, Spain and Ukraine are among the dozens of countries joining the effort.

Project examples include:

• In Chicago, employees will sort food at the Greater Chicago Food depository.
In the U.K., volunteers will deliver food to FareShare's community organizations.
• In Brazil, employees will promote healthy lifestyle habits to children at the Icaro Institute and child education centers.
• In China, volunteers will educate children on nutrition in rural schools and orphanages.

"For more than 25 years, Kraft Foods has been a huge supporter of Feeding America through the donation of food, money and employee time and talents," said Vicki Escarra, President, Feeding America. "Make a Delicious Difference Week will not only help our member food banks across the U.S., it will help fight hunger and build stronger communities nationwide."

Kraft Foods' Support of Hunger and Healthy Lifestyles
As the second largest food company in the world, Kraft Foods is taking a stand when it comes to fighting hunger and promoting healthy lifestyles. Since 1997, the company has provided more than 1 billion servings of fresh food. The company contributes approximately $100 million annually to community organizations in more than 130 countries.

Kraft Foods (www.kraftfoodscompany.com) makes today delicious in 150 countries around the globe. Our 100,000 employees work tirelessly to make delicious foods consumers can feel good about. From American brand icons like Kraft cheeses, dinners and dressings, Maxwell House coffees and Oscar Mayer meats, to global powerhouse brands like Oreo and LU biscuits, Philadelphia cream cheeses, Jacobs and Carte Noire coffees, Tang powdered beverages and Milka, Cote d'Or, Lacta and Toblerone chocolates, our brands deliver millions of smiles every day. Kraft Foods (NYSE: KFT) is the world's second largest food company with annual revenues of $42 billion. The company is a member of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, Standard & Poor's 500, the Dow Jones Sustainability Index and the Ethibel Sustainability Index.

- make today delicious -

Kraft Foods Inc.

Kraft Foods Inc.

More from Kraft Foods Inc.