Groups Recognized At Lambeau Field Atrium Luncheon
With proceeds from its "Hunting Down Hunger" orange hat program, the Green Bay Packers on Thursday presented grants totaling $105,000 to 27 Wisconsin non-profit organizations with hunger relief programs at a recognition luncheon at the Lambeau Field Atrium. More than 21,000 hats were sold last season to support the cause.
"Together with our fans, who supported the effort by purchasing thousands of hats, we are very pleased to contribute to these organizations," Packers President/CEO Mark Murphy said at the event. "The need to assist hunger relief efforts continues to increase. A recent study showed nearly 600,000 people in Wisconsin rely on assistance to meet their basic food needs.
"The 27 organizations present today assist approximately 30,000 households and nearly 140,000 people each month with support programs. We"re thankful for the work they do, and to our fans for joining the cause. We all enjoyed seeing the hats worn in the community, and at Lambeau Field."
Hats continue to be available through the Packers Pro Shop, both online and in the store. The program will continue through the 2010 season, as well. Three styles of the hunter orange hats with the Packers" "G" are available: two baseball caps (priced at $15), one orange and one with a camouflage pattern, and an orange cold-weather knit hat ($10). The hats also have the words "Hunting Down Hunger" on the left side. Each sale of the hat results in a $5 donation going to charity.
Including this program, the Packers and their fans have now raised nearly $2 million for charity through cap campaigns. Previous causes include breast cancer (pink caps, 2005-06), heart disease (red caps, 2006-07) and support of service men and women and their families (dark gray, 2007-08).
Organizations Receiving Grants (County):
- Chetek Food Shelf Inc. (Barron)
- NEW Community Shelter, Inc. (Brown)
- Paul's Pantry (Brown)
- Manna for Life (Brown)
- Salvation Army - Green Bay (Brown)
- St. Patrick's (Brown)
- The Community Pantry of Pulaski (Brown, Oconto, Outagamie, Shawano)
- Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin/Oneida Pantry Emergency Network (Brown, Outagamie)
- Indianhead Community Action Agency (Burnett, Washburn, Sawyer, Rusk, Taylor, Clark)
- St. Joseph Food Program, Inc. (Calumet, Green Lake, Marquette, Outagamie, Waushara, Winnebago)
- District Council of Madison, Inc. Society of St. Vincent de Paul (Dane)
- Sunshine Place (Dane)
- Sun Prairie Emergency Food Pantry (Dane)
- Dunn County Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers Inc. (Dunn)
- The Community Table (Eau Claire)
- Ripon Community Thrift Store and Food Pantry (Fond du Lac, Winnebago, Green Lake)
- Southwestern Wisconsin Community Action Program (Grant, Green, Iowa, Richland, Lafayette)
- Shalom Center of the Interfaith Network (Kenosha)
- Faith United Church of Christ Food Pantry (Langlade)
- Peter's Pantry (Manitowoc)
- Marinette County Elderly Services (Marinette)
- Project Concern of Cudahy - St. Francis (Milwaukee)
- Three Lakes Christian Food Pantry (Oneida, Vilas)
- The Salvation Army - Serenity Home & Grace Place (Polk)
- Racine/Kenosha Community Action Agency (Racine)
- Salvation Army - Grace Place & Faith House (St. Croix)
- Vilas Food Pantry Inc. (Vilas)