Springdale, Ark. – July 13, 2017 – As part of Tyson Foods’ (NYSE: TSN) efforts to raise the world’s expectations for how much good food can do and its charitable focus on building healthier communities, healthier people and addressing food insecurity, the company announced today nearly $400,000 in community grants to 17 non-profit organizations in ten states.
The company’s efforts to build healthier communities include support for community foundations, educational institutions and emergency medical services (EMS). Examples include $20,000 to the Vienna, Georgia, Fire Department for respiratory equipment, and $25,000 to the Peace at Home Family Shelter in Fayetteville, Arkansas, for Tyson chaplain training to manage domestic abuse. A $15,000 grant was awarded to the Rogers Public Education Foundation (RPEF) in Rogers, Arkansas, for teacher micro grants at schools near company facilities. The micro grants program allows teachers from across the district to apply for funds that will provide enhanced learning opportunities for their students, such as increased technology in the classroom, outdoor education initiatives, opportunities for students to be active, and other programs with appropriate relevancy.
“We’re excited and honored to receive a grant from Tyson Foods,” said Amy Callahan, board president of the RPEF. “This generous gift will fund a micro grant program for the Rogers School District, and will provide an opportunity for teachers to enrich their classroom with quality educational tools that may not be available otherwise. The micro grant program will have a huge impact on the district as many of the grants we fund are used by entire grades verses one classroom.”
Tyson Foods is also investing in improving the lives of its team members and their families. A major example is Upward Academy, a workplace education program that focuses on the needs of plant workers, many of whom are immigrants. Grants to support Upward Academy include $46,660 to Ozark Literacy Council for English as a Second Language (ESL), General Education Development (GED) and citizenship classes. An additional $13,500 was awarded to the Springdale (Arkansas) School District to provide Tyson Foods’ team members with children in the district the opportunity to receive enrollment support services during a back to school event.
“Our non-profit partners are such important allies in making Upward Academy a success,” said Kevin Scherer, senior manager, employee social responsibility, Tyson Foods. “From English as a Second Language (ESL) training, digital literacy guidance and citizenship classes, the curriculum they provide is helping elevate the quality of life for thousands of our team members.”
Building on Tyson Foods’ long-standing commitment to address hunger insecurity, $25,000 was awarded to the Tarrant Area Food Bank in Fort Worth, Texas, for a mobile food pantry. In addition, $25,000 was awarded to Neosho Bright Futures in Neosho, Missouri, for a backpack program that will provide weekend meals for preschool children to high school students.
Hunger relief and innovation intersect with a $24,680 grant to the River Bend Food Reservoir, which will use the funds for logistics software and inventory tracking across a 22-county area in Iowa and Illinois. The software will reduce staff time creating daily routes, lower transportation costs and improve customer service to the more than 300 partner agencies the food bank serves.
“The next step toward ending hunger in eastern Iowa and western Illinois is to increase the number of pickups and deliveries we provide throughout our service area,” said Michael Miller, executive director of River Bend Foodbank. “This includes the Tyson Foods community of Joslin, Illinois, as well as all 22 counties we serve. We are very thankful to Tyson Foods for providing the computerized routing system that will allow us to expand the reach of our growing fleet in the most efficient way possible. Every dollar’s worth of gas we save in more efficient routing will provide another five meals for our neighbors in need.”
Other organizations Tyson Foods supported with recent grants include:
• Catholic Charities, Omaha, Nebraska - $25,000 - Food Pantry
• Clarksville School District, Clarksville, Arkansas - $15,000 - ESL Training
• Flintville Volunteer Fire Department, Flintville, Tennessee - $9,614 - Swift water training and boat
• Fort Smith Adult Education Center, Ft. Smith, Arkansas - $15,794 - Mobile Digital Literacy Lab
• Freestore Foodbank, Cincinnati, Ohio - $20,000 - Operational support
• House of Hope Rescue Mission, Springdale, Arkansas - $24,000 - Operational support
• NW Technical Institute, Springdale, Arkansas - $15,794 - Mobile Digital Literacy Lab
• Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee, Nashville, Tennessee $23,500 - Operational support and hunger relief
• United Way of Northwest Arkansas, Lowell, Arkansas - $25,000 - Driver Education
