Dallas-based Telligent Joins National Online Campaign to Deliver a Truckload of Food for Local Families in Need

DALLAS May 12, 2009 – Even if you knew about the growing problem of childhood hunger in America, what could one person do to make a significant difference? Fortunately for North Texas area children, Telligent, MediaSauce, and almost 450 Texans took action to deliver a truckload of food for local children and their families.

Leading the corporate charge in Texas, Telligent promoted the campaign throughout the state and beyond with the help of their employees, clients, and strategic partners. Lawrence Liu, director of platform strategy, and George Dearing, corporate evangelist, spearhead the company’s efforts to promote the campaign through their blogs and Twitter accounts.

“I strongly believe in this cause, since I have three kids and just can’t imagine them going hungry,” said Liu,  “This campaign made it easy for us to rally our communities and for each of us to take meaningful action. It was encouraging to see that so many other people took part.”

One in six U.S. children worry about when their next meal will take place.  As the recession deepens and unemployment rises, more American families face hunger for the first time. A record 30 million Americans depend on food stamps, and food banks face unprecedented demands these days. The staggering statistics inspired Indianapolis-based MediaSauce to launch the Pledge to End Hunger this past March at the SXSW Interactive Festival in Austin, Texas.

Because of the support of 448 Texans, Tyson Foods (NYSE:TSN) delivered 15 tons of protein to the North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) today as part of their commitment in the Pledge to End Hunger. Representatives from MediaSauce, Telligent, Tyson, and NTFB attended the ceremony.

“We are grateful for Tyson’s passion to help end hunger. This donation of protein could not have come at a better time as we recently learned that once again Texas leads the nation with the highest rate of food insecure children. Thanks to Tyson we will be able to provide nutritious meals to thousands of families.” Jan Pruitt, North Texas Food Bank President and CEO.

The Pledge to End Hunger is a national, collaborative online initiative leveraging the power of social media to help in the fight against hunger. Visitors to the website http://www.pledgetoendhunger.com sign a pledge to end hunger by committing to give, volunteer or share a message with others. Pledge to End Hunger uses powerful social media tools to create awareness, generate conversation and motivate people to participate through popular social networks such as Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace. MediaSauce teamed up with sponsors, Kimball Office, Kompolt, and Share Our Strength to engage their social networks for support.

“Our initial goal for getting people to pledge was reached during the first day.” said Scott Henderson, Cause Marketing Director at MediaSauce. “And thanks to the support of more than 4,750 pledges and the generosity of Tyson Foods, much needed protein will feed hungry children in Austin, St. Louis, Dallas, and Indianapolis.”

So far, the campaign has assembled almost 5,000 individuals who vowed to make a difference for the more than 12 million children going hungry. Additionally, more than 2,600 people have joined the group’s Facebook cause and more than $28,000 in individual and matching donations from over 700 people has been raised to help Share Our Strength.

A friendly competition was held online between state communities to see who could collect the most pledges. The top three states earned a truckload of protein from Tyson Foods benefitting selected food banks. Texas had the third largest amount of people of any state to sign pledge, surpassed only by Indiana and Missouri.

“To watch so many people actively engaged in the Pledge to End Hunger showed us the power of online social media,” said Ed Nicholson, Director of Community Relations for Tyson Foods. “In just a few days enough people pledged to raise more than 140,000 lbs of Tyson Foods products, which is equivalent to more than 560,000 meals with protein. We’re honored to be a part of this innovative approach to ending hunger.”

“We’re very happy that Lawrence, George, the rest of the Telligent team, and everyone else took advantage of the platform to unite passionate people to help solve a complex problem,” said Henderson.  “When it’s easy to share your message and support your cause, it’s amazing how willing corporations and individuals are to make a difference. Now, children in need living in the counties of North Texas can have some more healthy meals.”

By Penny Rathbun, The Celina Record

Vehicles were lined up from the church portico almost to the highway.

The drivers were waiting at the First Baptist Church of Celina for their monthly food allotments from the North Texas Food Bank.

It was the second Monday of the month, a busy time at the church when it comes to feeding the hungry.

The church has partnered with the North Texas Food Bank to once a month be a mobile food pantry. Clients apply at the church for boxes of food. They may have one box of food for every person living in the residence.

Volunteers check them off as they drive in to get their boxes. Other volunteers load the food into the vehicle. On Monday, they kept loading hundreds and hundreds of boxes, but their spirits remained cheerful.

“We’re helping our community,” Pastor Raymond Horne said. “We’re servicing a part of the county that is not being served. It helps First Baptist Church by providing food and delivering it. Without their help I’d be helping 10 families a month. This way I help 110 families.”

The boxes that don’t get picked up will be given to other people who need them within a day or two.

The North Texas Food Bank serves 13 counties in the North Texas area. NTFB staff members wanted to expand the agency’s services in Collin County. There are no large food banks in the Celina area.

NTFB staff members approached several organizations in the Celina area about becoming a mobile food pantry.

“Hunger is an issue right here in Collin County, right here in our back yard,” said Paul Wunderlich, North Texas Food Bank chief operating officer. “The typical person doesn’t realize it’s a problem.”

Wunderlich said Pastor Horne was the first to respond.

“I think he had the vision to see this,” Wunderlich said.

Both he and Horne said they think it is a good partnership. The church provides both clients in need of food and volunteers to distribute the boxes. The food bank collects and delivers the boxes of food.

Wunderlich said the food is going mostly to the working poor, people who have a job, but who don’t make enough to pay for necessities or people who have lost a job and are needing help for the first time. Each box weighs about 23 pounds, contains staple foods and will feed one person for a week.

After getting the food bank call and deciding to try the mobile food panty experiment, Horne said the church did a mass mailing in the 75009 ZIP code area that contained an application and announced a mobile food pantry was starting. Approved applicants received a voucher to pick up the boxes of food.

In November, the mobile food pantry’s first month of operation, boxes were distributed to 50 families. In December, the number was 75, in January 100. Last Monday about 109 people picked up boxes of food.

The Monday before mobile food pantry day the church mails out postcard reminders to those who are on the list for receiving boxes of food.

Horne said this is so much better than what the church was doing. He would give people gift cards from Brookshire’s on a haphazard basis. Now they can sign up for the mobile food pantry. Often extra food pantry boxes are given to help them immediately.

He said he hopes to eventually be able to distribute perishable food and start a monthly medical clinic.

“The North Texas Food Bank has stepped up and is meeting needs,” Horne said. “Because of the economic downturn the need has increased hundredfold. It’s little things like this that can help people stay above water.”

Call 972-382-3171 for information.

To find out more about other food banks and services available in Collin County, call Assistance Center of Collin County at 972-422-1850.

DALLAS (December 3, 2008) – - There are thousands of families, children and senior citizens in our community who are facing hunger for the first time in their lives – and the economic recession continues to cause North Texans living on the edge of poverty to struggle more than ever. Many of our neighbors won’t have enough to eat this holiday season without assistance from organizations like the North Texas Food Bank.

This holiday season consider giving a unique gift that helps others at the same time.

Food Lovers
The North Texas Food Bank’s 2009 Hunger and Thirst calendar offers photos and recipes for delicious gourmet food and beverages. The cost is $12 and your donation will provide 30 meals. Calendars can be purchased at Central Market stores in Dallas and Plano.

Holiday Greeting Cards
The Seasoning’s Greetings holiday card packs are also available: 5 for $27 donation, 25 for $118 donation and 50 for $210 donation. All proceeds from the calendar and card benefit the NTFB and can be purchased online at ntfb.org or by calling 214-330-1396.

Jewelry Fans
For those who love jewelry, there is an Ylang 23 exclusive “Chip” the chipmunk charm fashioned by Catherine Michiels. The cost is $110 with $50 from each charm sold benefiting the NTFB’s Food 4 Kids school backpack program. The charms can be purchased online through ntfb.org or at the Ylang 23 store located in the Galleria.

About the NTFB
The North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) is a nonprofit hunger relief organization that distributes donated, purchased and prepared foods through a network of feeding programs in 13 North Texas counties. The NTFB supports the nutritional needs of children, families and seniors through education, advocacy and strategic partnerships. Close the Gap is the NTFB’s 3-year initiative to unite the community to narrow the food gap by providing access to 50 million meals annually.

Founded in 1982, the NTFB is a certified member of Feeding America (formerly America’s Second Harvest – The Nation’s Food Bank Network). Last year 26 million meals were distributed. Each month agency pantries distribute food to more than 50,000 families and on-site meal programs serve 435,000 meals/snacks.

Every dollar donated to the NTFB provides five meals for the hungry. Out of every dollar donated, 97 cents goes directly to hunger relief programs.

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