/PRNewswire/ - Today, Kraft Foods (NYSE: KFT) announced it will donate more than 25 million meals* to Feeding America^®, the culmination of Kraft Foods' Huddle to Fight Hunger campaign.  The program is the largest branded hunger relief effort in company history. The announcement took place during a press conference for the second annual Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl in San Francisco, Calif.

Kraft Foods' ambitious 25 million meal goal, which exceeds last year's 21 million meal donation, was achieved through a multi-faceted game plan.  Contributing to the win were more than 60 retail partners who activated the program nationwide, youth football teams who rallied support in their hometowns and a Facebook community where consumers could easily join the cause. For every "like" on the page, Kraft Foods is donating one meal[1] to Feeding America.  And fans that play the "2-Minute Trivia Drill" game on Facebook trigger additional meal donations for their local food banks. Fans can still impact the final donation to Feeding America via the Kraft Fight Hunger Facebook page.

The donation comes at a time of great need for the nearly 49 million Americans who struggle with hunger.

"At Kraft Foods, we recognize that 1 in 6 of our neighbors are affected by hunger and live in food insecure households. That's why the game played on the field this Saturday is about so much more than football," said Stephen Chriss, senior director, consumer engagement and marketing partnerships, Kraft Foods. "It's about raising awareness around a problem that people in our hometowns are facing, and we are proud to have reached this year's donation goal thanks to supporters across the country that joined us in making a difference."

Communities Rally Around the Cause

Throughout this sophomore year of the Huddle to Fight Hunger campaign, football legend Joe Montana and celebrity chefs Pat and Gina Neely once again huddled to champion the cause. American Youth Football (AYF) – the nation's largest youth football organization – also joined the team, rallying their nearly one million members and their families across the country to participate.

Following the national kickoff in August, the campaign took the cause to a local level. With the help of AYF and football greats Trent Green, Priest Holmes, Muhsin Muhammad and Anthony Muñoz, Kraft Foods raised awareness about the serious issue of hunger in America and helped spread the word to support local hunger relief efforts.

Also joining the huddle were some of Kraft Foods' biggest brand superstars including Planters nuts, Oreo cookies, Ritz crackers, Capri Sun beverages, Oscar Mayer meats, Maxwell House coffee, Kraft Real Mayo Mayonnaise, Miracle Whip Dressing, Kraft Macaroni and Cheese and Kraft cheese.

"Feeding America is truly privileged to have a partner in hunger relief like Kraft Foods," said Vicki Escarra, president and CEO of Feeding America. "It's inspiring to see a company of this stature bring the cause to a local level and provide such a substantial donation for the second year in a row. Kraft Foods is a true leader in the fight against hunger and a best-in-class partner."

A Unique College Bowl to Fill All Bowls

Kraft Foods is pleased to round-out 2011 with a bang and celebrate the 25 million meal accomplishment at the second annual Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl, which kicks-off at 12:30 pm PST/3:30 pm EST New Year's Eve from AT&T Park in San Francisco.

The bowl marks the culmination of the Huddle to Fight Hunger campaign and is the only college bowl game focused on raising money and awareness for hunger relief in the United States. The game, which will feature the University of Illinois against the University of California, Los Angeles, will be broadcast LIVE on ESPN this Saturday.

To further support the mission of the bowl, organizers are donating a meal for every ticket sold, as well as in the name of every player participating in the game.  Players and coaches from the University of Illinois and UCLA also plan to volunteer at Bay Area food pantries on Friday.

As a special treat to fans, Kraft Foods has invited rising country star Hunter Hayes to kick things off with his rendition of the National Anthem. 

Then, the game's opening possession will be decided by the flip of an Oreo 'Heads or Tails' cookie, a coin toss unique to the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl. 

For more information about the Huddle to Fight Hunger campaign or the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl, visit Facebook.com/KraftFightHunger.

About Kraft Foods

Kraft Foods Inc. (NYSE: KFT) is a global snacks powerhouse with an unrivaled portfolio of brands people love.  Proudly marketing delicious biscuits, confectionery, beverages, cheese, grocery products and convenient meals in approximately 170 countries, Kraft Foods had 2010 revenue of $49.2 billion.  Twelve of the company's iconic brands – Cadbury, Jacobs, Kraft, LU, Maxwell House, Milka, Nabisco, Oreo, Oscar Mayer, Philadelphia, Tang and Trident – generate revenue of more than $1 billion annually.  On Aug. 4, 2011, Kraft Foods announced plans to divide and create two independent public companies:  a high-growth global snacks business and a high-margin North American grocery business.  The transaction will take at least 12 months to complete, during which time plans regarding the structure, management, governance and other matters will be announced.  A leader in innovation, marketing, health & wellness and sustainability, Kraft Foods is a member of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, Standard & Poor's 500, Dow Jones Sustainability Index and Ethibel Sustainability Index.  Visit www.kraftfoodscompany.com and www.facebook.com/kraftfoodscorporate.

About Feeding America

Feeding America provides low-income individuals and families with the fuel to survive and even thrive. As the nation's leading domestic hunger-relief organization, our network members supply food to more than 37 million Americans each year, including 14 million children and 3 million seniors. Serving the entire United States, more than 200 member food banks support 61,000 agencies that address hunger in all of its forms. For more information on how you can fight hunger in your community and across the country, visit http://www.feedingamerica.org. Find us on Facebook at facebook.com/FeedingAmerica or follow our news on Twitter at twitter.com/FeedingAmerica.

About American Youth Football®
(AYF) is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides support services, scholarships, grants, giving back programs and tournaments to over 920,000 youth football players and cheerleaders in 50 states and several countries worldwide. AYF is committed to Giving Back and since its inception in 1996, has donated over $15 million dollars in grants and athletic product to communities that support youth football. AYF was the first national organization to offer all-inclusive football divisions, enabling every child a place to play. For more information visit the website at www.americanyouthfootball.com.

About the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl

The not-for-profit San Francisco Bowl Game Association has been the driving force behind the Bowl game since its inception in 2002.  In that time, the game, played at San Francisco's AT&T Park, has generated more than $120 million in economic impact for the City and County of San Francisco.  Several of college football's most storied programs have already participated in the contest, formerly known as the Emerald Bowl.  They include onetime national champions USC, Miami and Florida State, plus California, Boston College, UCLA, Oregon State and Utah.  The 2009 game between USC and Boston College is ESPN's third-most-watched football bowl game ever. For more information, visit the website at www.kraftbowl.org.

-- make today delicious --

[1] $0.14 equals one meal secured by Feeding America on behalf of local food banks