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Cargill donates $1 million to global anti-hunger network
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A U.S. anti-hunger organization announced today how it will spend a $1 million gift that it received from Minnetonka agri-titan Cargill.
The Chicago-based Global FoodBanking Network (GFN) said the donation will be used to feed schoolchildren in Argentina, Colombia, India and South Africa, as well as "support existing partner networks and food banks, and scale up key network development projects that alleviate hunger and malnutrition."
GFN said Cargill made the donation "in response to food price inflation and the worldwide economic crisis."
The donation is part of Cargill's announcement in December that it was making $5 million in hunger grants to GFN and others.Maurice Weaver, a GFN spokesman, said that the money will be used to buy food in those four countries from Cargill and other suppliers -- rather than purchasing food in the United States and shipping it overseas.
"Hunger relief agencies are facing a growing demand for their services at a time when donations are shrinking," said Greg Page, Cargill's chairman and chief executive officer. "In light of Cargill's mission to nourish people, we are making this donation to help address immediate shortfalls of food for families in need."
David Prendergast, GFN's president and chief executive officer, has seen first-hand in India the massive midday meal programs that serve millions of primary and junior high children every day. "These programs get wheat and rice from the government," Prendergast said, "but they struggle to buy the cooking oil, fruits, vegetables and spices that they need every day. The development of food banking in India will help provide these essential commodities at a much lower cost."
GFN has members, partners and projects in 15 countries: Argentina, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Mexico, South Africa, Turkey, Britain and the United States.
Last year, Cargill supported community efforts in more than 50 countries with $44 million in contributions and $19 million in future commitments. Those efforts include partnerships with organizations, such as CARE and World Food Programme, focusing on long-term solutions to health and nutrition, education and environmental challenges.
Last summer, Cargill unveiled its largest single gift to charity, a $13 million pledge. The donation, to be distributed over five years, will fund efforts of CARE to help 100,000 people in rural areas, Cargill said. Some of the money will go to fund research at a Stanford University think-tank that studies global hunger.
Cargill is an international provider of food, agricultural and risk management products and services. It employs 160,000 employees in 67 countries.
Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482
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