Meal Exchange Celebrates a UPS Supply Chain Solutions Donation with Sneak Peek Performance of Its Latest Youth-led Initiative

(Toronto – April 2007) - Meal Exchange celebrated its newest social partner, UPS Supply Chain Solutions (UPS SCS), last night with a sneak peek performance of ‘Portraits of Hunger’. Portraits of Hunger is a national youth-led dramatic writing competition and social theatre production that aims to raise awareness of hunger in Canada.

Meal Exchange was the recipient of a $28,915 CAD UPS Supply Chain Solutions Community Investment Grant. When a UPS employee (and/or their family) donates a minimum of 120 volunteer hours, that organization becomes eligible for grant consideration under The UPS Community Grant Program. The grant was provided by the UPS Foundation, the charitable arm of UPS. The grant was the largest UPS Supply Chain Solutions has made to a Canadian organization.

Launched as a pilot in January 2007, Meal Exchange profiled two Portraits of Hunger monologues last night that eloquently put a human story to the statistics of poverty and realities of local hunger.

“Meal Exchange is thrilled to be working with UPS SCS. UPS is a true leader in community investment and their commitment to young Canadian leaders and stronger communities are reflected our recent partnership,” said Dave Kranenburg, Executive Director. “The monologues presented are a real reflection of hunger in Canada and with UPS’s support we will continue to engage youth leaders to address hunger in their communities.”

“We’re pleased that this UPS grant will allow Meal Exchange to continue providing much-needed services to Canadians,” said UPS Supply Chain Solutions, Canada president, Brad Mitchell. “Giving back to communities where we live and work is an important part of the UPS culture and we are very proud that this grant will support raising awareness of hunger across the country.”

Meal Exchange (www.mealexchange.com) is a national student-founded, student-driven, registered charity that helps young Canadians realize their potential to improve the future of their communities by providing them with meaningful opportunities to reduce hunger today. Meal Exchange offers students in a national network of 40 universities and colleges, three fun and creative programmes including Trick or Eat, Skip-A-Meal, and Clear the Shelves! Meal Exchange supports new ideas initiated by youth through our Social Incubator, which includes two new youth-led projects: Portraits of Hunger and The Student Food Network.

The UPS Foundation
Founded in 1951 and based in Atlanta, Ga., The UPS Foundation identifies specific areas where its support will clearly impact social issues. The UPS Foundation’s major initiatives currently include programs that support increased global volunteerism, literacy and hunger relief. In 2006, The UPS Foundation donated over $45.9 million. Visit community.ups.com for more information about UPS's community involvement.