Nashville, Tenn. – Cargill
Meat Solutions today was honored with the
American Meat Institute (AMI) Edward C. Jones
Community Service Award. Cargill Meat
Solutions Executive Vice President William Rupp
accepted the award, which was named for the
late Ed Jones of Jones Dairy Farm and presented
during AMI’s Annual Convention and Innovation
Showcase, September 30-October 2, at the
Gaylord Opryland Hotel & Convention Center.
“It is telling that the anti-hunger
group America’s Second Harvest nominated
Cargill,” AMI Chairman Stewart Owens,
chairman of Bob Evans Farms, said. “Second
Harvest said Cargill’s product donations have
supported more than 13,000 community food
pantries, shelters and soup kitchens in 25
states. Second Harvest affiliates also have
benefited from the time and energy of Cargill
employees, who regularly volunteer –
something that is encouraged throughout the
company.”
Cargill Meat Solutions
locations across the country support their
local communities through volunteer support,
contributions to local United Ways, providing
leadership on local non-profit boards, and
making financial contributions to local
hospitals, schools, youth groups and local food
banks.
United Way of the Plains in
Kansas saw a steep drop in donations after
September 11 – and a steep increase in needs.
The agency was forced to cut funding to
charities dependent upon United Way support by
ten percent in 2003 and another cut was slated
for 2004. But Cargill employees stepped in and
doubled their contributions from $200,000 to
$400,000, making reduced funding for agencies
unnecessary.
In addition, Cargill
locations nationwide have provided a variety of
support to local charities,
including:
* Cargill Meat Solutions in
Schuyler, Neb., funded a health and wellness
resource library at hospital in
Schuyler.
* Cargill Meat Solutions employees
in Dodge City, Kansas provide food and cooking
expertise for BBQ during annual Dodge City
Days;
* In Friona, Texas, Cargill Meat
Solutions is working with city to provide
funding to help restore environmental habitat
around local lake;
* Cargill Pork in
Beardstown, Ill. provided funding to build new
science labs for local high
school;
* Caprock facilities in Texas
panhandle formed Farm Safety 4 Just Kids
Chapter to help prevent injury on the family
farm;
* Cargill Meat Solutions in Wichita
donated $60,000 to Catholic Charities of
Wichita, which enabled the charity to buy food
for the needy.
Cargill also has
been a leader in encouraging diversity and a
spirit of inclusion throughout the company –
a spirit that also impacts communities. For
their efforts, Cargill this year received eh
National Conference for Community & Justice
Award.
According to Owens, “We could
spend the morning detailing Cargill’s
generosity, but instead, we will borrow words
from United Way of the Plains President Patrick
Hanrahan, who said, ‘Service to the community
is not a platitude written in an annual report
to bolster the company’s public image. It is
a way of life for this company and its
employees.’”
CARGILL MEAT SOLUTIONS HONORED WITH 2004 EDWARD C. JONES COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD
Thursday, September 30, 2004
For more information contact:
Dave Ray Vice President, Public Affairs 703-841-3624 dray@meatinstitute.org |
Janet Riley Sr. VP, Public Affairs 703-841-3635 jriley@meatinstitute.org |

