Oct. 5, 2007

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Lift Up America and the University of South Carolina teamed up with Tyson Foods, Inc., to help bring the gift of food to the area’s less fortunate Tuesday, Sept. 28. Gamecock student-athletes unloaded more than 2,000 cases of food. Harvest Hope Food Bank assisted USC and Tyson in distributing the food directly to a variety of agencies throughout the area. South Carolina Athletics Director Eric Hyman was on site at Williams-Brice stadium to kick-off the distribution of more than 30,000 pounds of frozen meat products to South Carolina’s less fortunate.

“We’re honored to join forces with great partners to bring more awareness to the problem of childhood hunger in America,” John Tyson, chairman of Tyson Foods, said. “We hope what we’re doing here inspires others to share their strengths and resources toward finding solutions for the challenges in America and around the world.”

Founded in 2005 with a mission to give back to communities across the country, Lift Up America continues to nurture its vision of providing important necessities to families and instilling hope in the hearts of America’s less-fortunate. Lift Up America, fueled by caring corporations and individuals and powered by a humanitarian heart, aims to feed the nation’s hungry, while providing hope, hearing and vision screenings, and prescription hearing aids and eyewear to American children in need. Last year, thanks to the generosity of sponsors 15,000 children and families were touched by Lift Up America events with more than $40 million in gifts being distributed throughout the United States and Mexico.

“We are thrilled about the partnership and team spirit between these great organizations,” Dave Hannah, CEO of Lift Up America, said. “It is truly inspirational to see so many entities coming together with such a noble goal in mind.”