January 7, 2009 - Dallas and Fort Worth Business Leaders, Schools and Congregations Become Allies in Largest Area Food Drive

Souper Bowl of Caring Dallas/Fort Worth Kicks off Jan. 7 and Continues Through Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 1

Dallas—Leading grocers Albertsons, Central Market, The Kroger Company and Tom Thumb Food and Pharmacy have teamed up for the second consecutive year with Dallas and Fort Worth’s top media outlets NBC 5; WFAA-TV; CBS 11; TXA 21; Telemundo 39; 94.9 KLTY; and The Dallas Morning News and Star-Telegram as well as the Dallas Cowboys to fight a cause that is important to each of them—hunger. These organizations have partnered to host Souper Bowl of Caring Dallas/Fort Worth, kicking off today and running through Super Bowl weekend.

Souper Bowl of Caring Dallas/Fort Worth takes place Jan. 7 through Feb. 1, 2009, and residents are encouraged to purchase a pre-packaged food bag to donate or make a cash donation at one of 217 participating Albertsons, Central Market, Kroger and Tom Thumb grocery stores. In addition, more than 300 local churches and schools will conduct food and donation drives.

“Through the Souper Bowl of Caring, people across North Texas are joining together to help our neighbors in need,” said Jerry Jones, Owner, President and General Manager of the Dallas Cowboys. “The Dallas Cowboys organization is proud to be part of a team that is making a real impact in the fight against hunger and poverty.”

A goal has been set to raise one million pounds of food to benefit the North Texas Food Bank and Tarrant Area Food Bank. Together, the food banks serve nearly 550 hunger-relief agencies throughout the North Texas region. All donations from Souper Bowl of Caring Dallas/Fort Worth will go to help the one in eight residents in North Texas struggle to provide food for themselves or their families. More than one-third of the individuals receiving food aid from the North Texas Food Bank and Tarrant Area Food Bank are children.

Partners in the North Texas initiative will join more than 15,000 congregations, schools, civic clubs and businesses signed up to participate as part of the nationwide Souper Bowl of Caring effort to transform Super Bowl weekend into the nation’s largest youth-led weekend of giving and serving now in its 20th year.

“For the past two decades, I have had this amazing view to see this simple idea grow from a single youth group project to a national movement of compassion raising more than $50 million for soup kitchens, food banks and other charities,” said Brad Smith, Founder and Executive Director of Souper Bowl of Caring. “It’s exciting to see business leaders follow the example of these young people and put competition aside to help our neighbors in need. I hope all Dallas and Fort Worth residents will get involved and make a donation this year.”

For more information on the Souper Bowl of Caring Dallas/Fort Worth, including participating groups, store locations and/or volunteer opportunities, visit www.souperbowl.org/dfw.

###

About Souper Bowl of Caring
The Souper Bowl of Caring is a collaboration of NFL teams, congregations, schools and compassionate individuals caring for others on Super Bowl weekend. More than $50 million has been generated, and 100% of all donations go directly to food banks, soup kitchens and other charities across the country. Now in its 20th year, the Souper Bowl of Caring continues to bring people together to help those in need across the country, while transforming Super Bowl weekend into the nation’s largest youth-led weekend of giving and serving. There are many opportunities to lead, serve and encourage others through the Souper Bowl of Caring. Learn more at www.souperbowl.org.