Chicagoland Speedway Joins Hillshire brands, AARP And AARP Foundation In Drive To End Hunger

By:
On:
In: Speedway News

Chicagoland Speedway, Hillshire Brands, AARP and AARP Foundationare teaming up this September in the fight to end hunger for nearly nine million older Americans. The organizations will host a volunteer meal-packing event on Wed., Sept. 11 at Chicago’s Navy Pier in an effort to provide meals to older Illinoisans struggling with hunger.

The midday event will take place from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. on the west end of the Pier and the meals will benefit Northern Illinois Food Bank, which serves 13 counties in the greater Chicagoland area. Over the course of four hours, volunteers are expected to pack over 1,700 boxes of food, yielding more than 15,000 meals.

“We are extremely grateful to AARP and AARP Foundation, Chicagoland Speedway and Hillshire Brands for putting a focus on hunger in our community,” said Pete Schaefer, president and CEO, Northern Illinois Food Bank. “Drive to End Hunger reminds us that there are many older adults who are finding themselves making choices they never thought they would have to make, such as, paying for their mortgage or buying medicine, paying utility bills or buying food.”

In further support of Drive to End Hunger, Hillshire Brands is donating $20,000 to AARP Foundation and an entire semi-truck load of food to the Northern Illinois Food Bank.

“Hillshire Brands is proud to support AARP Foundation and the Northern Illinois Food Bank,” said Sean Connolly, president and CEO, Hillshire Brands. “Through campaigns such as this by AARP Foundation, and the feeding programs of Northern Illinois Food Bank and its network partners, we can help ensure that nutritious food is available to older adults, and all our hungry neighbors, in their time of need.”

“Being a part of this effort with Chicagoland Speedway, Hillshire Brands and the Northern Illinois Food Bank means that more older adults who struggle with hunger will get access to the food they need,” said AARP Foundation President Jo Ann Jenkins. “This event will help shine a spotlight on the issue of hunger that more than nine million people 50-plus face everyday.”

Throughout the 2013 season, all 13 ISC tracks, including Chicagoland Speedway and Route 66 Raceway, are donating extra food from race weekends to local food banks on behalf of Drive to End Hunger. ISC began working with AARP and AARP Foundation on food donation efforts in 2011.  Since then, the collaboration has donated more than 70,000 pounds of food – the equivalent of approximately 54,000 meals – to local food banks near ISC tracks.

“While we have been involved with Drive to End Hunger through our parent company, ISC, we are thrilled to personally host AARP and AARP Foundation in Chicago this September,” said Scott Paddock, Chicagoland Speedway president. “We look forward to continuing the fight against hunger and are pleased to provide aid to a cause with such a tremendous impact on both a local and national level.”

CLS PR

Speedway Digest Staff
Follow Me
Latest posts by Speedway Digest Staff (see all)
Post Views: 39