Salt Lake City Fighting for $1 Million Dollars For Hungry

Salt Lake City Currently in First Place for $1 million

Walmart, GiftCard Bäks and Utah Food Bank Team Up

to Encourage Votes for Salt Lake City

SALT LAKE CITY, December 27, 2010 - First place equals $1 million in Walmart's Fighting Hunger Together Facebook campaign, and Salt Lake City is currently leading the charge. But more votes for Salt Lake City are needed as Fresno, Cal., currently in second place, is receiving tremendous support while vying for the top position.

Walmart, GiftCard Bäks and Utah Food Bank are encouraging all Utahns to vote for Salt Lake City 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 count as three votes by (1) "Liking" Salt Lake City at fightinghunger.walmart.com, (2) Commenting on Salt Lake City's page and (3) Posting the link to the user's Facebook page. As of Monday, December 27 at 4:40 p.m., Salt Lake City is ranked #1 with 60,489 votes.

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, 17^th 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)

"We have seen a startling increase in the requests for food assistance over the last year and every bit of funding helps," said Jim Pugh, CEO of Utah Food Bank. "We can turn $1 into $7 worth of food and services, so this gift of $1 million would radically help those less fortunate throughout our state. It only takes a few seconds to 'Like' Salt Lake City and that vote could help change the lives of Utahns statewide."

Right now, 1 in 7 Utah children is at risk of hunger and Salt Lake City has a food hardship rate twice the national average with 18.2 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.