First regional student food drive to fight hunger

High schools throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania are invited to join Shire's The Great Food Fight!, the first regional student food drive to fight hunger. The goal: to collect 25 tons of food - the equivalent of 50,000 meals - for Philabundance and the thousands of local families who rely on the food services they provide. Shire will present the school that collects the most food per student a grand prize of $10,000.

“With their unbridled energy and 'we can do it' mindset, teenagers can accomplish great things”

"With their unbridled energy and 'we can do it' mindset, teenagers can accomplish great things," said Mike Cola, president of Shire Pharmaceuticals. "We believe that high schools in every county will step up and show how their students can put food on the table for parents struggling to feed their children, seniors who can't make ends meet and all the hungry people Philabundance serves."

According to Philabundance, there are 900,000 people in need of food assistance in the Delaware Valley and food donations are down 20 percent while the need is increasing.

"A regional high school food drive has never been attempted in the Northeast United States before. But we know that when area high school students get wind of The Great Food Fight!, they're going to energize entire communities and we can't wait to hear about their successes," said Bill Clark, president and CEO of Philabundance.

The winning school can use the $10,000 prize for any school-approved project, event, activity or equipment.

The registration deadline for Shire's The Great Food Fight! is August 31, 2010. High schools located in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties are eligible to participate in the collection drive which runs October 1 - October 15, 2010.

SOURCE Shire