Birmingham Executives Volunteer for Hunger Free Summer Project

Birmingham executives were among the 45 Metro Detroit CEO's, executives and business leaders who volunteered at the Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan's Detroit wareness on June 14.

The executives helped fill more than 900 backpacks with nutritious food to kick off Gleaners' _2012 Hunger Free Summer campaign_.

Since it's launch in mid-June, the Hunger Free Summer campaign has raised over $220,000.

Campaign partners Charter One Foundation, Ford Motor Company Fund, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, the Joshua (Jim) and Eunice Stone Foundation and Epoch Restaurant Group are matching donations dollar-for-dollar with the goal of providing 2 million more meals for hungry children this summer.

Normally $1 provides three meals; during the Hunger Free Summer campaign — going on now through Sept. 10 — $1 will provide six meals.

During the school year, more than 315,000 children in southeast Michigan receive free or reduced-fee meals in school. Now that school is out for the summer, these children are at risk of missing meals and going hungry. Studies show that school-aged children who experience severe hunger have higher levels of chronic illness, anxiety, depression and behavioral problems.

Sodexo North America President Michael Norris and Belfor CEO Sheldon Yellen joined Ilitch Holdings Treasurer David Agius and more than 30 other local, regional and national executives; rolling up their sleeves and creating an assembly line to stuff backpacks with nutritious food.

Oscar and Grammy award winner Luis Resto and his brother Mario Resto, performed I Wonder If Anybody Knows (About Me), publicly for the first time. The original song was composed by Mario Resto to help further awareness of the growing hunger problem in our nation.

Now through Sept. 10, donations can be made to:

• Online at www.hungerfreesummer.org
• Calling 866-GLEANER (453-2637)
• Text “HFS” to 8594 (a $10 donation will be automatically added to donor’s cell phone bill – message and data rates may apply)
• Checks by mail: Hunger Free Summer, P.O. Box 1380, Troy, MI 48099

The public can also support and follow the campaign on Twitter at @HungerFreeSummer and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HungerFreeSummer