NEWS RELEASE

8201 South Congress Avenue
Austin, Texas  78745
(512) 282-2111
FAX: (512) 282-6606
www.austinfoodbank.org

For Immediate Release
January 20, 2010

For more information:
John Turner
Senior Director of Marketing and Branding
Office: 512-684-2528
Mobile: 512-636-1497
jturner@austinfoodbank.org
jturner@austinfoodbank.org

Souper Bowl of Caring Gains Momentum as Big Game Approaches
First week of city-wide initiative results in more than 135,000 meals

Austin, TX —

While America waits to see who will be playing in Super Bowl XLIV, Central Texas residents are tackling hunger through the Souper Bowl of Caring, with more than 54,000 pounds of non-perishable food and $27,000 in cash collected since the program kicked off on Jan. 13.

Tyson Foods pledged to donate 100 pounds of chicken (up to 35,000 pounds) for every Twitter hashtag (#SBOCAustin), video or blog posted during the Souper Bowl of Caring.  Within three days, the challenge was met.

H-E-B, Central Market and Randalls Food Markets have teamed up with Austin's leading television networks: CBS42; FOX 7; KVUE-TV; KXAN Austin News; The CW Austin; News 8 Austin; My Austin TV; Telefutura; Telemundo; Univision-KAKW 62; local radio stations: KASE 101; The River 102.3; Relevant Radio 970; La Que Buena 104.3; La Jefa 107.7; as well as the Austin American-Statesman and the Austin Toros to help nourish hungry Central Texans during the Souper Bowl of Caring Central Texas.  Young people in more than 100 area congregations and schools will also conduct collections of money and food as well as volunteer in the local community.

The goal for Central Texas this year is to raise food and money to provide 750,000 meals to meet the rising need of food assistance in the community. Most of the donations will benefit the Capital Area Food Bank, which serves more than 350 hunger relief agencies in 21 Central Texas counties.  With the cash and food collected so far, the Capital Area Food Bank is able to provide more than 135,000 meals for hungry people across Central Texas.

"Only through Souper Bowl of Caring do all local media, and H-E-B, Central Market and Randalls, put competition aside and join together for a common goal: to nourish our hungry neighbors," said David Davenport, President & CEO of the Capital Area Food Bank.  "Our hope is that this incredible act of generosity and leadership will inspire our community to collectively believe that hunger is unacceptable, and act upon it by advocating, donating, and volunteering."

Partners in the Central Texas initiative join more than 16,000 congregations, schools, civic clubs and businesses signed up to participate as part of the nationwide Souper Bowl of Caring effort to transform Super Bowl weekend into the nation's largest youth-led weekend of giving and serving.

"For over 20 years, young people have led this national movement of compassion raising more than $60 million for soup kitchens, food banks and other charities," said Ron Goch, Executive Director of Souper Bowl of Caring. "Together, we all can make a difference through this effort. I hope everyone in the Central Texas community will find a way to give and serve."

For more information, visit www.souperbowl.org/austin.

The Souper Bowl of Caring is a national youth-led movement of schools, congregations, community organizations and compassionate individuals joining together to fight hunger and poverty in their local communities, transforming the nation's biggest weekend of football into its largest weekend of giving and serving. Since the program started in 1990, volunteers have raised more than $60 million with 100 percent of all donations going directly to community food banks, soup kitchens or other charities chosen by each group.  For more information or to join the team, visit www.souperbowl.org.

About Capital Area Food Bank of Texas

The mission of the Capital Area Food Bank of Texas is to nourish hungry people and lead the community in ending hunger. In its 29th year of service, the Food Bank currently provides food and grocery products to more than 350 Partner Agencies in 21 Central Texas counties. In 2009, CAFB distributed more than 23 million pounds of food. For more information on the Capital Area Food Bank of Texas and its programs, visit www.austinfoodbank.org or call 512/282-2111.