FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jessica Pugh
PR Specialist
C: 801-870-7079
Ogden reaches 6th Place: Help Needed to Keep Salt Lake City & Ogden in Walmart's Top 6 to Win at Least $100,000 Each
SALT LAKE CITY, December 28, 2010 - Rarely can two Utah cities win at least $100,000 with just the click of a mouse. But that is exactly what is happening through Walmart's "Fighting Hunger Together" Facebook campaign as Salt Lake City is currently ranked #2 and Ogden is ranked #5. Overnight, a huge surge in votes lifted Ogden from #15 to #6. But more votes for Salt Lake City and Ogden are needed to ensure each city wins at least $100,000 each.
Walmart, GiftCard Bäks and Utah Food Bank are encouraging all Utahns to vote for Salt Lake City and Ogden from a list of 100 communities where hunger rates are the highest. The city with the most support will receive $1 million in grants and the next five cities with the highest support will receive $100,000 each.
Each person can vote multiple times for multiple cities by (1) "Liking" Salt Lake City and Ogden each at fightinghunger.walmart.com, (2) Commenting after "Liking" each city and (3) Sharing the link on the user's Facebook page and (4) "Liking" other users' postings. As of Wednesday, December 29 at 9:45 a.m., Salt Lake City is ranked #2 with 177,325 votes and Ogden is ranked #5 with 29,509 votes.
"Both Salt Lake City and Ogden have almost 1 in 5 families who can't afford regular meals," said Jim Pugh, CEO of Utah Food Bank. "It takes the entire statewide food assistance network to help meet the needs of low-income individuals and families. We are asking every Utahn to take a few seconds to vote for both Salt Lake City and Ogden so that we receive the critical funding necessary to provide for Utahns at risk of hunger."
Supporters of Salt Lake City's quest to the $1 million include:
· Scott Anderson, CEO, Zions Bank
· David Archuleta, pop singer-songwriter
· Thurl Bailey, former NBA player
· Kurt Bestor, Emmy-award-winning composer, arranger and performer
· Amanda Dickson, co-host of Utah's Morning News (KSL)
· Orrin G. Hatch, senior United States Senator for Utah (R)
· Gary R. Herbert, 17th and current Governor of the U.S. state of Utah (R)
· Mike S. Lee, junior United States Senator-elect for Utah (R)
· Ethan Millard, co-host of the Nightside Project (KSL)
· Nathan Osmond, singer-songwriter
· Nu Skin Jazz Dancers, NBA
· Kyle Whittingham, head football coach of the University of Utah Utes
· Doug Wright, host of the Doug Wright Show (KSL)
· Steve Young, former NFL quarterback
· Utah Jazz, NBA
· www.Connect2Utah.com (KUTV)
· www.Fox13Now.com (KSTU)
Right now, 1 in 7 Utah children is at risk of hunger and Salt Lake City and Ogden both have a food hardship rate twice the national average with approximately 20 percent of families not able to afford regular meals. Utah Food Bank, which serves 150 food pantries statewide, would receive a significant portion of the funding if Salt Lake City earned the most votes.
Photo and Interview Opportunities Available.
About Utah Food Bank
Utah Food Bank provides food to a statewide network of 150 emergency food pantries and agencies statewide. Last fiscal year, Utah Food Bank distributed 30.8 million pounds of food, the equivalent of over 23 million meals for families and individuals in need. Utah Food Bank also served 221,237 Kids Cafe meals, delivered 26,472 senior food boxes and answered 114,994 calls through its 2-1-1 Information & Referral service. For more information about Utah Food Bank call (801) 978-2452 or visit www.utahfoodbank.org. Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/UtahFoodBank and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/UtahFoodBank.
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