Newswise — TOLEDO, Ohio, April 13, 2012 – ProMedica has been selected to join the No Kid Hungry® Allies program and partner with Share Our Strength®, a national nonprofit working to end childhood hunger in America. The No Kid Hungry Allies program is a part of the national No Kid Hungry campaign to engage communities across the nation fighting childhood hunger by surrounding kids with healthy food where they live, learn and play.
Of the more than 85 organizations across the country that expressed interest in becoming a No Kid Hungry Ally, 13 organizations, including ProMedica, were selected for 2012. ProMedica was selected as for its local programs and services to help end hunger. The affiliation with the No Kid Hungry Allies program will provide additional resources to help residents within ProMedica’s 27-county service area.
“We are extremely excited to be selected as a No Kid Hungry Ally. This new affiliation will bring resources and support to the excellent work being done by our community as we strive to collaborate with agencies and organizations to end childhood hunger,” said Barbara Petee, chief advocacy, government & community relations officer. “We are also looking forward to learning from the other Allies as well as sharing the progress being made in northwest Ohio.”
“Our focus is on long-term change. The goal of No Kid Hungry is to make sure that every single child in the United States gets enough to eat not just today, but every day,” said Bill Shore, Chairman and CEO of Share Our Strength. “We are pleased to be working with ProMedica and welcome them to the No Kid Hungry Allies program. Together, we can end childhood hunger here in Ohio and nationwide.”
More than 30 percent of children and adolescents in Ohio are overweight or obese, according to the Ohio Department of Health, and more than 730,000 children are at risk of hunger. In 2008, ProMedica introduced the Fields of Green initiative to raise awareness about proper nutrition and exercise, and to increase access to healthier food in under-served areas. The following year, the health system established the ProMedica Advocacy Fund with the Toledo Community Foundation to assist area nonprofit organizations and offer programs and services that provide food, clothing and shelter.
On April 25, from 12:30-5 p.m., ProMedica, YMCA and JCC of Greater Toledo, United Way of Greater Toledo, the Urban Affairs Center, The University of Toledo, and Toledo Grows will present a community summit called Conversations to End Hunger. The event will be held at the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library, Main Library.
For more information about ProMedica’s advocacy programs, visit www.promedica.org.
Toledo, Ohio-based ProMedica is a mission-based, not-for-profit healthcare organization formed in 1986. ProMedica has more than 14,300 employees and nearly 1,700 physicians with more than 400 healthcare providers employed by ProMedica Physicians. Its 11 hospitals and more than 306 facilities offer comprehensive diagnostic, medical and surgical specialties in heart and vascular, oncology, orthopaedics, neurology, and women and pediatric services. ProMedica’s mission is to improve health and well-being, with a strong focus on wellness and clinical excellence, as well as innovative, community advocacy programs that address health-related issues such as hunger and obesity. For more information, please visit www.promedica.org.
Share Our Strength®, a national nonprofit, is ending childhood hunger in America by connecting children with the nutritious food they need to lead healthy, active lives. Through its No Kid Hungry® campaign—a national effort to end childhood hunger in America—Share Our Strength ensures children in need are enrolled in effective federal nutrition programs; invests in community organizations fighting hunger; teaches families how to cook healthy, affordable meals; and builds public-private partnerships to end childhood hunger, at the state and city level. The No Kid Hungry Allies program is a part of the national No Kid Hungry campaign and is funded by Share Our Strength, with support from the Arby's Foundation. National No Kid Hungry efforts are supported by all of Share Our Strength’s national corporate and foundation partners. Visit Strength.org to get involved.###
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