-more- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 28, 2011 CONTACTS: Ariane Holm | [email protected]|C: 571-213-6465 | O: 202-649-4350 Anne Sheridan |[email protected]| C: 702-343-4869 |O: 202-478-6500 Jen Adach | [email protected]| C: 202-631-3206 | O: 202-986-2200 x3018 ANTONIO FREEMAN, MAYOR RAWLINGS-BLAKE KICK OFF CAMPAIGN TO PROMOTE SUMMER MEALS FOR KIDS Free Summer Meals Served at More Than 1,000 Sites Across Maryland Baltimore, MD (June 28, 2011) – Green Bay Packers’ Hall of Fame wide receiver and Baltimore native Antonio Freeman and his charitable foundation, B’MoreFree Programs, joined Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, the Partnership to End Childhood Hunger in Maryland, the Governor’s Office for Children, Family League of Baltimore City, Maryland Hunger Solutions, Share Our Strength and a diverse group of partners to kick off a statewide campaign to promote the state’s free summer meals program for children and teens at St. Veronica Catholic Church today. “Having played in the NFL as a professional athlete, I know firsthand how important it is to eat nutritious foods to be able to perform at your very best level. Providing free summer meals to kids helps to ensure they can perform at their best all year long; beyond the end of the school year,” said Freeman. “As a proud Marylander, I want all of our state’s kids to have the opportunity to get a healthy meal. If one is not available at home, then getting one through the free summer meals program is the answer. I believe that no child should go hungry and that’s why I’m getting involved in this campaign. Parents need to know that their kids can get free meals all summer long by calling (877) 731-9300 or going to NoKidHungryMd.org.” Funded by the USDA, summer meals programs provide free, nutritious meals to kids at more than 1,000 sites across the state, including an innovative mobile meals pilot program operated by the Family League of Baltimore City in select Baltimore neighborhoods. However, according to the Food Research and Action Center, only one in five children who relied on free and reduced-price lunch during the school year also participated in summer meals in 2010. In Maryland, one of the biggest barriers to participation has been that many families don’t know that the program is available and do not know how to access it. "Summer should be a fun, worry-free time for our kids, but it can be a stressful time for those who count on school meals. This simply does not have to be the case," said Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings- Blake. “We’re doing everything we can to get the word out about these sites, and this campaign is critical to making sure our kids have a carefree, hunger-free summer.” Today’s event kicked off an aggressive statewide outreach effort to raise awareness of and participation in the Maryland summer meals program. Partners for this effort include the Governor’s Office for Children, Share Our Strength, the Maryland State Department of Education, Maryland Hunger Solutions, the Family League of Baltimore City, Catholic Charities of Baltimore, Maryland Out of School Time Network, B’MoreFree Programs, the Food Research and Action Center, community leaders and elected officials.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 28, 2011 CONTACTS: Ariane Holm | [email protected] |C: 571-213-6465 | O: 202-649-4350 Anne Sheridan |[email protected] | C: 702-343-4869 |O: 202-478-6500 Jen Adach | [email protected] | C: 202-631-3206 | O: 202-986-2200 x3018
ANTONIO FREEMAN, MAYOR RAWLINGS-BLAKE KICK OFF CAMPAIGN TO PROMOTE SUMMER MEALS FOR KIDS
Free Summer Meals Served at More Than 1,000 Sites Across Maryland
Baltimore, MD (June 28, 2011) – Green Bay Packers’ Hall of Fame wide receiver and Baltimore native Antonio Freeman and his charitable foundation, B’MoreFree Programs, joined Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, the Partnership to End Childhood Hunger in Maryland, the Governor’s Office for Children, Family League of Baltimore City, Maryland Hunger Solutions, Share Our Strength and a diverse group of partners to kick off a statewide campaign to promote the state’s free summer meals program for children and teens at St. Veronica Catholic Church today. “Having played in the NFL as a professional athlete, I know firsthand how important it is to eat nutritious foods to be able to perform at your very best level. Providing free summer meals to kids helps to ensure they can perform at their best all year long; beyond the end of the school year,” said Freeman. “As a proud Marylander, I want all of our state’s kids to have the opportunity to get a healthy meal. If one is not available at home, then getting one through the free summer meals program is the answer. I believe that no child should go hungry and that’s why I’m getting involved in this campaign. Parents need to know that their kids can get free meals all summer long by calling (877) 731-9300 or going to NoKidHungryMd.org.” Funded by the USDA, summer meals programs provide free, nutritious meals to kids at more than 1,000 sites across the state, including an innovative mobile meals pilot program operated by the Family League of Baltimore City in select Baltimore neighborhoods. However, according to the Food Research and Action Center, only one in five children who relied on free and reduced-price lunch during the school year also participated in summer meals in 2010. In Maryland, one of the biggest barriers to participation has been that many families don’t know that the program is available and do not know how to access it. "Summer should be a fun, worry-free time for our kids, but it can be a stressful time for those who count on school meals. This simply does not have to be the case," said Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake. “We’re doing everything we can to get the word out about these sites, and this campaign is critical to making sure our kids have a carefree, hunger-free summer.” Today’s event kicked off an aggressive statewide outreach effort to raise awareness of and participation in the Maryland summer meals program. Partners for this effort include the Governor’s Office for Children, Share Our Strength, the Maryland State Department of Education, Maryland Hunger Solutions, the Family League of Baltimore City, Catholic Charities of Baltimore, Maryland Out of School Time Network, B’MoreFree Programs, the Food Research and Action Center, community leaders and elected officials.
With support from the Walmart Foundation and the Sodexo Foundation, Share Our Strength is investing more than $350,000 this summer in an effort to increase participation in the Summer Food Service Program. The Partnership is launching an innovative mobile meals pilot project in Baltimore City, operating a summer meals website and toll-free hotline staffed by Sodexo Youth Ambassadors, airing radio ads featuring Antonio Freeman, promoting the program on billboards and bus ads, and disseminating more than 475,000 posters, business cards, yard signs, banners and postcards. "In our efforts to end childhood hunger in Maryland by 2015, the Partnership has identified summer as a time when many children are particularly vulnerable to hunger," said Rosemary King Johnston, Executive Director of the Maryland Governor’s Office for Children. "Last year, more than 38,000 of Maryland’s children received a summer meal each day. Although that is a major accomplishment, we need to do more. We are working hard to reach these children and their families and are confident that in collaboration with our partners, we can build on last summer’s success and serve even more children this summer."
The Partnership is also working with schools, community organizations, churches and other organizations to improve summer meals sites infrastructure and to get more sites up and running. "The Sodexo Foundation supports this innovative summer meals initiative and mobile meals pilot program because research clearly demonstrates that when children have access to the food that their minds and bodies need to grow—in the communities in which they live—it helps them to be as healthy and productive as possible," said Robert Stern, president, the Sodexo Foundation. “In the last two years, the Walmart Foundation has made a substantial commitment to eradicating hunger across the nation, and our work in Maryland is an important part of that effort.” said Brooke Mueller, Senior Manager, Public Affairs, Walmart. “This year, we are proud to assist Baltimore City and Maryland in increasing the number of summer meals sites across the state and awareness about the program.” Many states have seen low participation in summer meals programs. In fact, in 2010, according to the Food Research and Action Center, if Maryland reached a goal of serving 40 low-income children with
summer meals for 100 who participated in school lunch, the state would have received an additional $3
million in federal child nutrition funding. "Families are still struggling to recover from the recession," said Kevin Keegan, President and CEO for the Family League of Baltimore City. "Knowing that children will have nutritious meals when school is out gives parents peace of mind. The mobile meals van expands summer meals by reaching children in their neighborhoods and where they spend summer hours." “We’re poised to make a big difference for Maryland’s children this summer,” said Cathy Demeroto, director of Maryland Hunger Solutions. “Summer meals are incredibly important, and this campaign will get us closer to our goal of ending childhood hunger in Maryland and improving the well-being of children across the state.” The Partnership to End Childhood Hunger in Maryland is part of Share Our Strength’s national No Kid Hungry® Campaign. Speaking about the program, Anne Sheridan, Director, Maryland No Kid Hungry® Campaign said, “We are grateful to our corporate partners for making this aggressive and creative outreach campaign possible. Over the last two years, we have seen the effect this outreach can have, as
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daily participation in the Maryland Summer Food Service Program increased by over 14 percent. It is the generous support of our sponsors that makes this campaign possible and successful. ” Families can call (877) 731-9300 or visit www.NoKidHungryMD.org to find a summer meals site near them.
### About Share Our Strength Share Our Strength
®, a national nonprofit, is ending childhood hunger in America by connecting children with the nutritious
food they need to lead healthy, active lives. Through its No Kid Hungry® Campaign—a national effort to end childhood hunger
in America by 2015— Share Our Strength ensures children in need are enrolled in federal nutrition programs, invests in
community organizations fighting hunger, teaches families how to cook healthy, affordable meals, and builds public-private partnerships to end hunger, nationally and at the state and city levels. Visit www.Strength.org to get involved. About Maryland Hunger Solutions Maryland Hunger Solutions (MDHS) aims to end hunger and improve nutrition in the state of Maryland. MDHS focuses on using federal nutrition supports (school meals, summer and afterschool nutrition programs, food stamps, and other nutrition programs) to reduce hunger and its adverse effects on health, learning, productivity and well-being; to improve nutrition; and to strengthen community institutions. Its goal is to increase access to these programs and other nutritious food sources in low-income areas across Maryland through public education, training and technical assistance and advocacy to improve program participation and implementation. Established in 2007, MDHS is a separately staffed and funded initiative of the Food Research and Action Center. Maryland Hunger Solutions is re member of the Partnership to End Childhood Hunger, a public-private coalition led by the Governor’s office to raise awareness about childhood hunger in the state and increase participation in nutrition programs that combat hunger. About the Partnership to End Childhood Hunger in Maryland Led by the Governor’s Office for Children and Share Our Strength, the Partnership to End Childhood Hunger in Maryland is a strong and growing coalition of state and federal agencies, non-profit organizations, advocacy groups and the private sector. The Partnership is working together to implement a five year plan for ending childhood hunger by increasing participation in federal nutrition programs. More about the Partnership’s plan and the statewide summer meals campaign is available at NoKidHungryMD.org. About the Family League of Baltimore City The Family League of Baltimore City (FLBC) is a quasi-governmental nonprofit organization, and a member of the Mayor’s Cabinet in Baltimore City that works with a range of partners to develop and implement initiatives that improve the well-being of Baltimore’s children, youth and families. The Family League’s work touches the lives of tens of thousands of Baltimore families each year. FLBC is uniquely able to coordinate major initiatives, bring together a range of partners, and fashion new approaches to the city’s urgent problems. We use state and city funding to leverage millions of federal and private funds that are critically needed. FLBC is a proud partner with the Governor’s initiative to end childhood hunger, and has served over a million suppers in the past year to Baltimore’s children through its partnership with out-of-school time programs. More information can be found at www.flbcinc.org.
Tuesday, June 28th | 10:45 a.m. St. Veronica’s Catholic Church
Baltimore, MD
PROGRAM AGENDA
Welcome Remarks and Moderator: Rosemary King Johnston, Executive Director, Maryland
Governor’s Office for Children
Remarks: Reverend Donald Fest, SSJ, Pastor
Remarks: Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, Mayor of Baltimore
Remarks: Nancy Bukar, Senior Director, State and Local Government Affairs/Senior
Attorney, Sodexo
Remarks: Kevin Keegan, President and CEO, Family League of Baltimore City
Remarks: Antonio Freeman, Former NFL Player and Super Bowl Champion
Speaking program concludes
Questions and answers
One-on-one media interviews
Mobile Meals Truck serves meals to children and speakers interact with children
ROSEMARY KING JOHNSTON EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, GOVERNOR’S OFFICE FOR CHILDREN
Rosemary King Johnston has been a special educator since 1968. A graduate of Fitchburg State College in Massachusetts with a Bachelors Degree in Special Education, Ms. Johnston received her M.S.Ed. in Special Education with a concentration in curriculum from the Johns Hopkins University.
Ms. Johnston has taught students from preschool through age 21 with a variety of disabilities and is a published author of books in the area of curriculum, preschool students with special needs, and disadvantaged youth.
A former public school educator, Ms. Johnston joined the staff of the Maryland State Department of Education in January of
1997, where she was employed in the Division of Special Education/Early Intervention Services as a Regional Administrator, a Senior Staff Specialist in the Program Evaluation and Compliance Branch and the Program Manager for Interagency Coordination at the Department.
In December of 2008, Ms. Johnston was appointed as the Executive Director of the Governor’s Office for Children (GOC). GOC is one of the Governor’s coordinating offices. On behalf of the GOC, Ms. Johnston leads the Children’s Cabinet in their efforts on behalf of Maryland’s children, youth, and their families, assists the Children’s Cabinet in allocating funds for distribution to state agencies, local government, and public and private organizations, and partners with the Local Management Boards to plan, coordinate, and monitor the delivery of integrated services along a full continuum/system of care.
Ms. Johnston’s efforts on behalf of families, educators, students and public education have been recognized through awards from the Maryland Coalition of Families for Children’s Mental Health, Council for Exceptional Children, the Maryland Business Roundtable for Education, and the Governor’s Office.
Ms. Johnston is an active member of the National Education Association and as a member of the NEA/IDEA Resource Cadre provides professional development/training on a variety of topics to NEA members across the country.
STEPHANIE RAWLINGS-BLAKE MAYOR, BALTIMORE CITY
Stephanie Rawlings-Blake was sworn in as Baltimore’s 49th mayor on February 4, 2010. She had served as City Council President since November 2007. Rawlings-Blake was first elected to the Baltimore City Council in 1995 at age 25, the youngest person ever elected to the City Council. She represented the Council’s 5th District from 1995 to 2004 and the 6th District from 2004 to 2007, serving communities throughout West and Northwest Baltimore.
She also served as Council Vice-President from 1999 to 2007. Before Rawlings-Blake was elected President, she chaired the Council’s powerful Budget and Appropriations Committee,
where she advocated on behalf of the City Council during budget negotiations with the Administration, ensuring that constituent concerns had a strong voice in the City’s annual budget process.
From 1998 to 2006, Rawlings-Blake was an attorney with the Baltimore Office of the Public Defender. She is a member of the Federal Bar Association and the Maryland State Bar Association. Rawlings-Blake is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Epsilon Omega Chapter and a former at-large member of the Alliance of Black Women Attorneys.
Born on March 17, 1970, Rawlings-Blake is a 1988 graduate of Baltimore’s Western High School, and in 1992 she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio. She received her Juris Doctor from the University of Maryland, School of Law in 1995.
As Council President, she chaired the City’s Board of Estimates, which conducts formal hearings on City agencies’ operating and capital budget requests and is also in charge of awarding contracts and supervising all purchasing by the City.
Mayor Rawlings-Blake has served on numerous boards and commissions, including the Baltimore Convention and Tourism Board; Hilton Baltimore Convention Center Hotel Corporation; Baltimore Museum of Art; Baltimore City Human Services Commission; Live Baltimore; Maryland Science Center, National Aquarium in Baltimore, Baltimore Substance Abuse Systems, Inc.; Living Classrooms Foundation; Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore and the Parks and People Foundation.
Rawlings-Blake has been honored with numerous awards. Recently the National Congress of Black Women named her a Shirley Chisholm Memorial Award Trailblazer. In 2007 she was selected by The Daily Record as one of "Maryland’s Top 100 Women." The National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs named her one of Baltimore’s "Young
Women on the Move." She has also received the "Hearts of Love Recognition Award" from Aunt Hattie’s Place, and the "Passing the Torch Legacy Award" from Baltimore African American Real Estate Professionals.
Rawlings-Blake is a member of Douglas Memorial Community Church. She lives in Baltimore’s Coldspring neighborhood with her husband Kent Blake and their young daughter Sophia.
NANCY A. BUKAR, J.D. SODEXO, SENIOR DIRECTOR, STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS AND SENIOR ATTORNEY
Nancy A. Bukar was appointed in August 2010 to the position of Senior Director, State and Local Government Affairs and Senior Attorney at Sodexo, the leader in Quality of Daily Life Solutions. Ms. Bukar leads Sodexo’s government affairs efforts relating to state and local officials and associations. Her work supports the company’s business relating to 120,000 employees at 6,000 client sites in the United States. Ms. Bukar also plays a leading role in assuring Sodexo adheres to political compliance laws and regulations. Ms. Bukar has developed her career for the past 14 years
by representing the legislative and regulatory policy interests of major corporations at state, local and federal levels. Prior to joining Sodexo, Ms. Bukar served as a Regional Government Affairs Manager for Gaithersburg-based MedImmune. She built relationships with state and local officials in the mid-Atlantic region, including executive, legislative, and regulatory connections. She served as Director of Government Relations and State Government Counsel at the Consumer Healthcare Products Association in Washington, DC. She also served as Associate Director of Regulatory Affairs at the Healthcare Distribution Management Association. Ms. Bukar is an honors graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Ms. Bukar earned her Doctor of Jurisprudence from the Columbus School of Law at Catholic University in Washington, DC, where she served as an editor of the Catholic University Law Review. She is a native New Yorker and is admitted to the bar in the Commonwealth of Virginia and the District of Columbia. Ms. Bukar is deeply committed to the Sodexo Foundation STOP Hunger initiative. As the parent of a small child, Ms. Bukar recognizes and understands the need for providing healthy meals to all children.
KEVIN KEEGAN
PRESIDENT & CEO, FAMILY LEAGUE OF BALTIMORE CITY
Kevin Keegan was appointed Family League President and CEO in 2010 following four years as a director at the Maryland Department of Human Resources and 10 years as executive director of New Pathways, Inc. He has deep experience as a practicing therapist for adolescents, and is past board president for the Maryland Association of Resources for Families and Youth, and Families Involved Together. He holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Loyola College and master’s degrees in both clinical psychology and health services administration.
ANTONIO FREEMAN GREEN BAY PACKERS’ HALL OF FAMER (RETIRED-WIDE RECEIVER)
As a man with strong leadership values, Antonio Freeman lives
his life with a dedicated focus to utilize his success as a
professional athlete to help others, while continuing to grow a
variety of entrepreneurial and philanthropic interests. A recent
inductee into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame, Antonio
currently also is a sports broadcaster for Comcast SportsNet
(Washington Redskins coverage), and is a frequent guest on
nationally syndicated sports radio shows (ESPN Radio, Fox Sports
Radio, etc.) . In addition, Antonio leverages his college degree,
along with the on and off-the-field knowledge that he gained
from playing in the NFL, to help him identify and pursue viable
business ventures. As the co-founder of FreeHorn Networks, LLC , Antonio provides leadership
for his OnlyPlayers.com business venture which is the only private social and business
networking forum for professional athletes, and he markets “Antonio’s A-List” Fantasy Football
to football fans across the country . Referred to as a big brother by several NFL and collegiate
football players, Antonio serves as a mentor to them by providing guidance on navigating the
life of a professional athlete and gearing them into becoming positive examples of manhood
and leadership. As a sought-out guest speaker for special events by schools/universities,
businesses, non-profits, and more, Antonio shares his personal story integrated with important
key lessons on education, teamwork, persistence, character, leadership, and entrepreneurship
with audiences in an effort to use what God has blessed him with in his life to make an impact
on the lives of others.
A native of Baltimore, MD, Antonio is a proud graduate of the esteemed Baltimore Polytechnic
Institute (high school) where his football talents were initially discovered and developed. After
achieving great success on the football field, along with his off-the-field success of obtaining a
bachelor’s degree in Business Administration while at Virginia Tech University, Antonio was
selected for the NFL draft. Antonio played nine years in the NFL with eight seasons for the
Green Bay Packers (1995-2001, 03). A wide-receiver who ranks sixth on the Packers’ all-time
list in both receptions (431) and yards (6,651), and third in touchdown receptions (57), Antonio
was recently inducted on July 18, 2009 into the Green Bay Packers’ Hall of Fame. Additionally,
Antonio’s on-the-field efforts earned him consensus All-Pro honors and the selection to a Pro
Bowl Team. Displaying exemplary teamwork with his fellow Packers teammates at Super Bowl
XXXI in ‘97, Antonio is a wearer of the coveted Super Bowl Champion ring. During this
phenomenal victory, Antonio’s accomplishments included a then-Super Bowl record 81-yard TD
reception. To add to his legacy in the NFL, Antonio is also most remembered for being the
possessor of one of the most remarkable touchdown receptions in Monday Night Football and
NFL history --- Antonio made an unbelievable, bobbling 43-yard, game-winning touchdown
catch in overtime for a 26-20 Packers triumph over Minnesota on Nov. 6, 2000.
Known for having a heart to help communities who are in need and people who desire to
succeed in life, Antonio’s dedication to helping others is demonstrated through the exciting
work of B’MoreFree Programs, Inc., his charitable foundation which was founded in 2009. The
foundation is based in Baltimore, MD and its mission is to educate and empower under-
privileged children and families and to provide resources for them to be successful in life. Over
the last two years, B'MoreFree Programs has implemented several initiatives that have directly
impacted that lives of over 2,000 people in Baltimore City and Baltimore County, MD and in
Green Bay, WI. .The foundation’s five-prong approach focuses on the following areas:
Academic Excellence & Enrichment, * STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and
Mathematics) skills development and career exploration, Financial Literacy & Life Skills
Antonio currently resides in FL and is a devoted son to both of his parents and a loving father
himself. Family means everything to Antonio and he gives God the honor for all of the blessings
and opportunities that have come and that will come into his life.
To learn more about Freeman and B’MoreFree Programs, visit www.bmorefreeprograms86.com . You can also become a friend of the foundation on Facebook and contact us at [email protected] for inquiries or speaking requests for Antonio Freeman.
In November of 2008, Gov. Martin O’Malley became the first governor to announce a commitment to ending childhood hunger by 2015, and established a partnership with Share Our Strength, a national nonprofit organization. Gov. O’Malley also made the goal one of his 15 strategic policy goals.
Led by the Governor’s Office for Children and Share Our Strength, the Partnership to End Childhood Hunger in Maryland has built a strong and growing coalition of public, private, and nonprofit organizations. The Partnership “table” brings together state agencies (Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Department of Human Resources, Maryland State Department of Education), the federal government (USDA), local nonprofit organizations (such as food banks and faith-based organizations), advocacy groups (Maryland Hunger Solutions), corporate leaders, who have worked together to create a five year plan for ending childhood hunger in Maryland.
The Partnership has focused its efforts on connecting individuals to federal nutrition programs for which they qualify. Our goals are to:
Increase participation in: o Food Supplement Program o Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) o School Breakfast Program o At-Risk Afterschool Supper o Summer Meals
Increase family economic security through utilization of the Earned Income Tax Credit
Partner Organizations Include: Maryland State Department of Education
Maryland Department of Human Resources
Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Comptroller's Office of Maryland
Share Our Strength
Maryland Hunger Solutions/Food Research and Action Center;
Advocates for Children and Youth;
Maryland Food Bank
Capital Area Food Bank
Seedco
Sodexo Foundation
Walmart Foundation
Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States
End Hunger in Calvert County
Maryland Cash Campaign
Baltimore Cash Campaign
Maryland Family Network
United States Department of Agriculture
Maryland Out of School Time Network Go to www.NoKidHungryMD.org to learn more about how the Partnership to End Child Hunger in Maryland is making sure that no child grows up hungry.
