Black Community Champions Recognized For Service, Commitment & Compassion

General Mills' Feeding Dreams(TM) Community Champions Recognized for Service, Commitment & Compassion

12 African-American Everyday Heroes In Four Southern Cities Honored; $32,000 In Community Grant Monies Awarded

 

 

 

 

 

MINNEAPOLIS, -- With the online polls at www.FeedingDreams.com closed and the votes tallied, General Mills salutes the 2009 Feeding Dreams(TM) winners as part of an effort to recognize African-Americans known for championing great work to improve their cities and local neighborhoods.

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Over the last several months, residents of four southern cities - Birmingham, Charlotte, Memphis and Norfolk - could cast a daily online vote for their favorite Feeding Dreams Community Champion at FeedingDreams.com. In turn, General Mills is awarding grants to each local champion's charity of choice, which will be distributed based on who received the most votes: $5,000 for first place, $2,000 for second place and $1,000 for third place. A total of $32,000 in grant monies will be awarded to designated charities.

"This successful grassroots initiative showcases 12 champions who selflessly reinvest their talents and energy to improve their communities day after day, month after month, year after year," said Rodolfo Rodriguez, multicultural marketing director, General Mills. "We received thousands of votes at our Feeding Dreams web site over the course of the campaign. This amazing group of everyday heroes has their own fan club - and rightly so!"

Feeding Dreams results are as follows:

Birmingham:  Glinda Fincher, Girls In Action, $5,000 grant
             Jason Branch, B.O.U.N.C.E., $2,000 grant
             LaJune White Dyess, Grace House, $1,000 grant

Charlotte:   Kelly Hutchinson, R.E.F.O.R.M., $5,000 grant
             Kym Gordon Moore, Dove's Nest, $2,000 grant
             Valarie R. Brooks, Girl Talk Foundation, $1,000 grant

Memphis:     Ekundayo Bandele, Hattiloo Theatre, $5,000 grant
             Chauniece Conner, Ballet On Wheels, $2,000 grant
             Linda Guy, Hope House, $1,000 grant

Norfolk:     Gregg Shivers, Diggstown Southside Boys & Girls Club, $5,000
              grant
             Jan House, Noah's House, $2,000 grant
             Renay Kirby, Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia, $1,000 grant

"We're celebrating the work, the passion and the power of these amazing individuals who do so much to improve the lives of so many. May we all listen and learn from them, and then follow their lead to build stronger, healthier, more vibrant communities," said Susan L. Taylor, Feeding Dreams National Champion, editor-in-chief emeritus of Essence Magazineand founder of the national CARES Mentoring Movement.

The second annual Feeding Dreams campaign launched last August. In addition to the community relations initiative, the integrated multicultural marketing campaign includes digital, public relations, event sampling, in-market advertising and retail visibility. Favorite General Mills brands supporting Feeding Dreams include: Honey Nut Cheerios®, Yoplait®, Grands!®, Nature Valley® and Betty Crocker®.

About Feeding Dreams(TM)

Feeding Dreams, General Mills multicultural platform to support African-American consumers, recognizes and celebrates local heroes who have devoted their lives to: helping others; nurturing their communities; and charting a better future. In its second year, Feeding Dreams taps top minority-owned businesses to help create and implement the campaign. Visitwww.FeedingDreams.com for complete details on the initiative.

About General Mills, Inc.

One of the world's leading food companies, General Mills operates in over 100 countries and markets more than 100 consumer brands, including Cheerios, Haagen-Dazs, Nature Valley, Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, Green Giant, Old El Paso, Progresso, Cascadian Farm, Muir Glen and more. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.A., General Mills had fiscal 2009 global net sales of US$15.9 billion, including the company's $1.2 billion proportionate share of joint venture net sales. Visit www.generalmills.com.

Feeding Dreams, Honey Nut Cheerios, Grands!, Nature Valley & Betty Crocker are trademarks of General Mills.

YOPLAIT is a registered trademark of YOPLAIT Marques Internationales SAS, France, used under license.

SOURCE General Mills, Inc.