For the 14th season, the Green Bay Packers and Sargento Foods are taking the field together to raise money for neighbors in need. As part of the Touchdowns for Charity™ program, each Packers touchdown puts points on the board to help tackle hunger in Wisconsin.
For every Packers touchdown during the 2016 regular season, which kicks off Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sargento Foods donates a total of $1,500 to two Wisconsin food charities: Hunger Task Force in Milwaukee and Paul's Pantry in Green Bay.
Since its inception in 2002, Touchdowns for Charity has raised $1,187,000 in total program donations. The program focuses on the one in eight Wisconsin residents who face hunger and has provided more than 1 million meals to people in Wisconsin.
During the 2015 regular season, Sargento Foods, the official cheese of the Green Bay Packers, donated $93,000 after the Packers scored 48 touchdowns.
"Touchdowns for Charity gives us a chance to play an active role in feeding members of the broader Wisconsin community while cheering on our hometown team," said Louie Gentine, CEO of Sargento Foods. "There is still work to be done to combat hunger in our community. We look forward to continue supporting the Hunger Task Force and Paul's Pantry as we kick off the next season."
Announcements about the program are made after every Packers touchdown at Lambeau Field during the regular season, where fans can get a taste of Sargento Foods with cheeseburgers featuring Sargento Deli Style Sliced Mild Cheddar Cheese and breaded natural Cheddar cheese curds. Updated totals throughout the season will be provided to fans on the Packers radio network and on a Packers.com touchdown ticker.
Fans can also join the excitement with in-store product promotions at grocery retailers throughout Wisconsin.
About Sargento Foods Inc.:
Sargento Foods Inc. has demonstrated its passion for cheese and cheese-based meal solutions for more than 60 years. Founded in 1953 in Plymouth, Sargento is a leading manufacturer, packager and marketer of natural shredded, sliced and snack cheeses, cheese appetizers, ingredients, sauces and other culinary solutions. Sargento is owned and operated by the Gentine family, has net sales exceeding $1 billion and more than 1,800 employees. For more information, please visit www.sargento.com.
About Hunger Task Force:
Hunger Task Force is Milwaukee's Free & Local food bank and Wisconsin's leading anti-hunger organization. Hunger Task Force believes that every person has a right to adequate food obtained with dignity. Hunger Task Force works to prevent hunger and malnutrition by providing food to people in need today and by promoting social policies to achieve a hunger-free community tomorrow.
About Paul's Pantry:
Since 1984, Paul's Pantry has distributed more than 79 million pounds of food to the needy of Brown County. Paul's Pantry was one of the first food pantries to seek available surplus food from the marketplace and relies entirely on the community for its donations. Its goal is to provide families with enough food every week for as long as needed, so that they may use their food dollars to avoid homelessness.
