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To a surprising extent, say nutrition experts, hunger often leads to obesity. Families unable to afford nutritious food often end up developing unhealthy eating habits, setting the stage for obesity and a variety of other health problems. The UPS Foundation, which for 15 years has pursued a major initiative to alleviate hunger in America, today announced it was broadening that effort to address nutrition and obesity issues. The UPS Foundation’s new initiative, “The National Collaboration to Reduce Hunger and Improve Nutrition,” has been launched with the award of US$2 million in grants to eight different organizations. The organizations are based across the country from California and Ohio to Illinois, Virginia and Washington, D.C., and already are involved in various aspects of the fights against hunger and obesity. The Society of Saint Andrew in Big Island, Va., for example, is working to expand distribution of otherwise wasted fresh produce from local farms to local food banks. The Children’s Hunger Alliance in Columbus, Ohio, is expanding access to and improving the quality of school meals. “Millions of Americans look hunger in the face every day. They feel the consequences of poor nutrition and in many cases suffer from the effects of obesity,” said Evern Cooper Epps, president of The UPS Foundation. “The connection between inadequate financial resources and poor nutrition is clear and compelling. We want to be instrumental in the fight against hunger by providing those individuals at risk with access to nutritious foods as well as information and resources.” Government reports show 36.3 million Americans - 13.3 million of whom are children - went hungry last year. Not surprisingly, there was a double-digit increase in requests for emergency food assistance even as medical evidence continues to mount showing America’s children are facing serious health threats because of widespread obesity and inactivity. “Obesity and hunger are major public health concerns facing our nation today,” said Edward Cooney, executive director of the bipartisan Congressional Hunger Center in Washington, D.C., and a former Agriculture Department nutrition program director. “The announcement that The UPS Foundation is launching a new funding initiative to fight hunger centered on improving nutrition and decreasing obesity is of critical importance to the nation’s nutritionally vulnerable children and adults.” In addition to the US$2 million in new grants, The UPS Foundation since 1989 has supported food banks and local feeding programs through its Prepared and Perishable Food Rescue Initiative. UPS has helped local organizations by providing more than US$10 million to help recover and distribute more than 300 million pounds of food to feed hungry Americans. UPS has not only contributed financially to the initiative, but also has provided technical, logistical and managerial expertise. Founded in 1951 and based in Atlanta, Ga., The UPS Foundation identifies specific areas where its support will clearly impact social issues. The Foundation's major initiatives currently include programs that support increased nationwide volunteerism, family and workplace literacy and hunger relief. In 2003, The UPS Foundation donated more than US$39.8 million to charitable organizations worldwide. Visit community.ups.com UPS is the world's largest package delivery company and a global leader in supply chain services, offering an extensive range of options for synchronizing the movement of goods, information and funds. Headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., UPS serves more than 200 countries and territories worldwide. UPS's stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange (UPS), and the company can be found on the Web at UPS.com.
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