SMITHFIELD, Va., Aug. 01, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- This back-to-school season, Smithfield® is partnering with No Kid Hungry to donate enough for two million meals to students in need through the brand’s “Most Important Meal” initiative. For the second consecutive year, Smithfield is ensuring a well-balanced breakfast is at the top of every student’s back-to-school list by doubling its commitment from last year and encouraging people to support No Kid Hungry’s in-school breakfast programs and the one in six children suffering from food insecurity in America.

From pencils and paper to binders and backpacks, families across the country prepare for an exciting year ahead, but too often breakfast is an afterthought and skipping it can lead to underperformance in school. According to a No Kid Hungry study, when students have a balanced breakfast in the morning, they are more likely to attend school and perform better on standardized tests, and Smithfield’s “Most Important Meal” campaign is ensuring everyone has access to this essential tool needed to perform successfully in school.

Now through the end of September, people everywhere can help Smithfield and No Kid Hungry reach their goal by sharing their breakfast on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter using #BreakfastPower. For every breakfast shared, Smithfield will donate enough for 10 meals* to No Kid Hungry – helping more kids get access to healthy meals.

“At No Kid Hungry, we found that students who eat school breakfast have been shown to achieve 17.5% higher scores on standardized math tests and attend an average of 1.5 more days of school per year,” said Jill Davis, senior vice president of corporate partnerships at Share Our Strength, the national organization behind the No Kid Hungry campaign. “Breakfast truly is powerful stuff, which is why we’re excited that with the help of partners like Smithfield, we can ensure breakfast is at the top of every school supply list this year.”

“As a food company, we know the importance of a well-balanced breakfast but find it concerning that so many kids in our country go hungry,” said Michael Merritt, senior director of brand marketing for Smithfield. “Smithfield is proud to partner with No Kid Hungry for a second year, doubling our donation to help support the organization’s commitment to end childhood hunger and provide children with access to the most important meal of the day.”

For more information on Smithfield’s “Most Important Meal” campaign and to learn how to donate, visit Smithfield.com/NoKidHungry.

*One dollar can provide up to 10 meals. This amount is based on the individual experiences of grant recipients. Contributions will be used to reach the highest number of children facing hunger in America. Share Our Strength is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization. Smithfield Foods will donate $1 for every social media post shared with the hashtag #BreakfastPower up to $50,000 to No Kid Hungry from July 5, 2018 to December 31, 2018. Smithfield will make a minimum donation of $200,000 to No Kid Hungry during this campaign. 

About No Kid Hungry
No child should go hungry in America. But 1 in 6 kids will face hunger this year. No Kid Hungry is ending childhood hunger through effective programs that provide kids with the food they need. This is a problem we know how to solve. No Kid Hungry is a campaign of Share Our Strength, an organization working to end hunger and poverty. Join us at NoKidHungry.org.

About Smithfield
A leading provider of high-quality pork products, Smithfield was founded in 1936 in Smithfield, Virginia, establishing the town as the “Ham Capital of the World.” From hand-trimmed bacon and slow-smoked holiday hams to marinated tenderloins, Smithfield brings artistry, authenticity and a commitment to heritage, flavor, and handcrafted excellence to everything it produces. With a vast product portfolio including smoked meats, hams, bacon, sausage, ribs, and a wide variety of fresh pork cuts, the company services retail, foodservice, and deli channels across the United States and 30 countries abroad. All of Smithfield’s products meet the highest quality and safety standards in the industry. To learn more about how Flavor Hails from Smithfield, please visit www.Smithfield.com, www.Twitter.com/SmithfieldBrand, and www.Facebook.com/CookingWithSmithfield. Smithfield is a brand of Smithfield Foods.

About Smithfield Foods
Smithfield Foods is a $15 billion global food company and the world's largest pork processor and hog producer. In the United States, the company is also the leader in numerous packaged meats categories with popular brands including Smithfield®, Eckrich®, Nathan’s Famous®, Farmland®, Armour®, Farmer John®, Kretschmar®, John Morrell®, Cook’s®, Gwaltney®, Carando®, Margherita®, Curly’s®, Healthy Ones®, Morliny®, Krakus® and Berlinki®. Smithfield Foods is committed to providing good food in a responsible way and maintains robust animal care, community involvement, employee safety, environmental and food safety and quality programs. For more information, visit www.smithfieldfoods.com, and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Media Contact:

Hunter PR for Smithfield
Michael Bernardini
(212) 679-6600
mbernardini@hunterpr.com