SAN DIEGO – Dec. 12, 2007 – To help further its mission to feed hungry San Diegans, Second Harvest Food Bank for San Diego is bringing on Chicken of the Sea International’s senior vice president of sales and marketing, John Sawyer, as a new member of its board of directors.

The new food bank, which is part of America’s Second Harvest’s national network, is aiming to help feed the estimated 800,000 people in San Diego County who are suffering from hunger.  Supported by $1.5 million in pledges and a grant from America’s Second Harvest, Second Harvest Food Bank will also work with supermarkets and manufacturers, including Chicken of the Sea, to help supply food and donations. 

“The Second Harvest Food Bank and Chicken of the Sea share a common goal – to feed people with nutritious food,” said Sawyer.  “In addition to being involved here in San Diego, Chicken of the Sea has partnered with America’s Second Harvest on a national level.”

The collaboration between America’s Second Harvest and Chicken of the Sea originates from the relief efforts surrounding Hurricane Katrina, during which Chicken of the Sea made food donations to the hunger-relief organization. Recently, the companies have embarked on a new partnership and an accompanying public outreach campaign dubbed “Twice a Week for Better Health.” Through the partnership, Chicken of the Sea is not only aiming to put seafood in the hands of America’s hungry, but also to educate the public about the health benefits of seafood.

The USDA, American Heart Association, American Medical Association and American Diabetes Association all tout the health benefits of seafood and suggest eating it twice a week.

“Our shelf-stable seafood is affordable and convenient and can help our consumers and the nation’s hungry meet the recommended nutritional and dietary guidelines,” said Sawyer.

Chicken of the Sea kick-started the campaign with a financial contribution and has set an overall goal to raise $100,000. To help reach that goal, the company is donating a portion of its sales – up to $30,000 – to America’s Second Harvest and its 200 food banks located across the country, and Chicken of the Sea will donate additional product in times of need. Chicken of the Sea is also reaching out to its employees and business partners to conduct food drives, make financial contributions and volunteer at local food banks.

For more information, visit TwiceAWeekForBetterHealth.com.

A seafood category leader, Chicken of the Sea provides a variety of shelf-stable seafood products, including tuna, salmon, crab, shrimp, oysters, clams, mackerel and sardines. The Chicken of the Sea brand and famous Mermaid icon are among the most recognized brands in America.

America's Second Harvest — The Nation's Food Bank Network — is the largest charitable domestic hunger-relief organization in the United States. Through its network of

more than 200 member food banks, America's Second Harvest annually provides assistance to more than 25 million people in need, including more than 9 million children and nearly 3 million seniors in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Each year, America's Second Harvest secures and distributes more than 2 billion pounds of food and grocery products to support feeding programs at approximately 50,000 local charitable agencies, including food pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, after-school programs and Kids Cafes. To learn more, please visit www.secondharvest.org.