Share Our Strength(R) Launches Fourth Annual Great American(R) Bake Sale on May 19

Share Our Strength(R) Launches Fourth Annual Great American(R) Bake Sale on May 19

Food Network Joins As National Television Partner

WASHINGTON, May 18 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Share Our Strength, one of the nation's leading organizations working to end childhood hunger in America, will launch its fourth annual Great American Bake Sale campaign on May 19. Share Our Strength's Great American Bake Sale is a national campaign that mobilizes people of all ages to help end childhood hunger in America by holding bake sales in their communities. Since 2003, the campaign has raised over $3 million and engaged more than 1 million people in baking, selling or buying goods.

"The Great American Bake Sale campaign provides a simple, exciting way for people of all ages to join the fight to end childhood hunger in America," said Billy Shore, Share Our Strength's founder and executive director. "The campaign builds on the long American tradition of holding bake sales as community fundraisers. By engaging everyone to hold a bake sale, the Great American Bake Sale will help ensure that the 12.4 million American children at risk of hunger have the healthy, nutritious foods they need to develop their full potential."

The scientifically recognized consequences of hunger are both devastating and lifelong: poorer overall health, reduced social and psychological well- being, and lower academic achievement. Share Our Strength's Great American Bake Sale provides a fun and easy way for individuals, families, businesses, students and organizations to make a difference for those children at risk of hunger.

Funds raised through Share Our Strength's Great American Bake Sale are granted to local organizations that work to increase participation by low- income children in summer and after-school feeding programs and to support nutrition education programs for low-income families. Funds will be used to support such efforts as purchasing equipment and utensils to serve children meals, covering the cost of opening additional meal sites, hiring additional staff to serve children meals, or paying for outreach that informs parents about the availability of summer meals and after school snacks.

As part of a new, exclusive, multi-year charitable partnership with Food Network, this year's campaign will be supported by Food Network PSA's featuring network stars Rachael Ray, Sandra Lee and Tyler Florence. As national television partner, Food Network will also feature an "In the Kitchen" Bake Sale on May 19 during its popular daytime programming block. The special bake sale will include shows like Paula's Home Cooking, hosted by Paula Deen, Tyler's Ultimate featuring Tyler Florence, and Healthy Appetite with Ellie Krieger.

As an extra incentive, this year's top bake sale fundraiser will win a trip for two to Food Network, tickets to a taping of Emeril Live!, and a behind-the-scenes tour of the Food Network Kitchens, all to help end childhood hunger in America.

Registration for Share Our Strength's Great American Bake Sale is free and available at http://www.greatamericanbakesale.org/.

About Share Our Strength

Since 1984, Share Our Strength has led the fight against hunger and poverty by inspiring individuals and businesses to share their strengths. Today, our priority is to end childhood hunger in America. By raising funds to support the most effective community-based programs that feed hungry children, partnering with organizations that pursue long-term solutions, and helping families help themselves through nutrition education programs, Share Our Strength will ensure that the more than 12 million children at risk of hunger have access to the nutritious food they need to learn, grow and thrive. For more information, please visit http://www.strength.org/.

About Food Network

FOOD NETWORK (http://www.foodnetwork.com/) is a unique lifestyle network and Web site that strives to be way more than cooking. The network is committed to exploring new and different ways to approach food -- through pop culture, competition, adventure, and travel -- while also expanding its repertoire of technique-based information. Food Network is distributed to more than 90 million U.S. households and averages more than seven million Web site users monthly. With headquarters in New York City and offices in Atlanta, Los Angeles, Chicago, Detroit and Knoxville, Food Network can be seen internationally in Canada, Australia, Korea, Thailand, Singapore, the Philippines, Monaco, Andorra, Africa, France, and the French-speaking territories in the Caribbean and Polynesia. The E.W. Scripps Company (NYSE:SSP), which also owns and operates HGTV (http://www.hgtv.com/), DIY Network (http://www.diynetwork.com/), Great American Country (http://www.gactv.com/) and FINE LIVING (http://www.fineliving.com/), is the manager and general partner. Network (http://www.hgtv.com/), Do It Yourself (http://www.diynetwork.com/), Great American Country (http://www.gactv.com/) and Fine Living (http://www.fineliving.com/), is the manager and general partner.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Share Our Strength

CONTACT: Shalaya Henson of Share Our Strength, +1-202-478-6526,
shenson@strength.org

Web site:

http://www.strength.org/
http://www.greatamericanbakesale.org/
http://www.foodnetwork.com/

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