Hungry For Happiness Tour Comes To Salt Lake TODAY!

THE ARBY’S FOUNDATION’SHUNGRY FOR HAPPINESS MOBILE TOUR ROLLS INTO SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH
MONDAY JUNE 25
Tour Helps Fight Childhood Hunger in America During Vulnerable Summer Months
The Arby‟s Foundation, in partnership with Share Our Strength‟s No Kid Hungry® campaign, is traveling across the U.S. this summer on a Hungry For Happiness mobile tour to raise awareness about childhood hunger and increase participation in free summer meal programs in communities nationwide. The tour will arrive in Salt Lake City on Monday, June 25.
According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), while more than 21 million school children in America get free or reduced-price school lunches during the school year, just over 3 million of those kids get a free summer meal when school is out. For example, in Utah, only 15.3 percent of children who rely on school lunch programs currently participate in free summer meal programs. The
Arby‟s Hungry For Happiness tour aims to increase that number so more kids have access to healthy food during the summer months.
“Summer is a vulnerable time for kids who rely on school nutrition programs during the school year,” says Hala Moddelmog, president of Arby‟s Restaurant Group. “We believe that every child should have access to the food they need to learn, play and grow. Summer should be a time for happiness for kids, not a time to worry about where their next meal will come from.”
“Today, many American families are struggling to make ends meet, and the summer months can be stressful when already-tight food budgets have to stretch even further,” says Billy Shore, founder and CEO of Share Our Strength. “The good news is that there are programs available to make sure kids get the healthy food they need, and we‟re proud to partner with The Arby‟s Foundation to help get this message out.”
The Hungry For Happiness tour will be partnering with the Sorensen Center and Utah Food Bank. It will be visiting the summer meals program at the Sorensen Center from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm on June 25. The tour will also be visiting the Arby‟s store at 225 N 400 W in Kaysville on June 26 beginning at 11:00 am. The Salt Lake City tour stops will conclude with a public event at the Sugar House Park Parleys Creek Pavilion on Wednesday June 27 from 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm. The tour will provide Arby‟s Kids Meals to children participating in the summer meals program, distribute information on local resources to the public, and provide an afternoon of summer fun such as hula-hoop contests, tug of war, bean bag toss, hopscotch and other family-friendly activities.
“No one wants to think child hunger can happen in their own community, but we see the struggle families go through right here in Salt Lake City every day,” says Ginette Bott, chief marketing officer of the Utah Food Bank. “We have the means to help these kids, so we‟re grateful the Arby‟s
Foundation and Share Our Strength are spreading the word so more families use our resources this summer.” Free summer meals are available to kids and teens ages 18 and under, and programs do not require applications or proof of income. Sites are registered with the USDA and are held at safe, local places such as schools, churches and community centers. All meals served follow USDA nutrition guidelines. Families in Salt Lake City can find a free summer meals site near them by visiting  www.Strength.org/SummerMeals, calling 1-866-3HUNGRY or texting FOOD to 877-877.
The Hungry For Happiness Tour will travel to 15 cities across the country through August. While in each city, the tour will stop at summer meal sites to deliver a full summertime‟s worth of activities and games for kids, complimentary Arby‟s Kids Meals and education on available summer meals programs and resources in each community. In addition, the tour will visit public events in each city to help raise awareness in the local communities on these issues.
Sponsors supporting The Hungry For Happiness Tour include Pepsi, Shamrock Farms, Dr Pepper, Kraft Foods and Comcast.
Arby‟s® is the largest quick service restaurant chain to partner in a nationwide effort with Share Our Strength‟s No Kid Hungry campaign, and contributed over $2.2 million to its mission in 2011. Arby‟s and the Arby‟s Foundation have generated significant national awareness of the childhood hunger movement by leveraging its restaurants and digital and social media properties in the fight to end childhood hunger in America.
About the Arby’s Foundation, Inc.
Since 1986, the Arby's Foundation, Inc., a 501 (c) (3) non -profit organization, has raised more than $52 million to support youth initiatives in the communities the foundation serves. In 2011, the Arby‟s Foundation contributed $2.2 million dollars toward its new mission to end childhood hunger in
America. The Arby‟s Foundation is the charitable arm of Arby‟s Restaurant Group, Inc., and works together with AFA Service Corporation (Arby's Franchise Association), Arby's suppliers and the generosity of Arby's customers and employees to ensure that all children in America have access to wholesome food choices, because every child deserves to learn, play and grow. For more information on the Arby‟s Foundation, please visit www.arbysfoundation.org.
About Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc.
Atlanta-based Arby‟s Restaurant Group, Inc. is the second largest quick-service sandwich chain in the U.S. with more than 3,500 restaurants system wide. In addition to its classic Roast Beef and Beef „n Cheddar sandwiches, slow-roasted and thinly sliced in store daily, Arby‟s is also known for its deli style Market Fresh® line of sandwiches and salads, Curly Fries and Jamocha Shakes. In 2011, Arby‟s introduced Ultimate Angus, a premium Angus beef menu line featured in sandwiches. To learn more about Arby‟s, please visit www.arbys.com.