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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Washington, DC - February 25, 2007 - The Congressional Hunger Center (CHC) and Victory Wholesale Group of Springboro, Ohio, and Boca Raton, Florida, are announcing the 2007 Fifteenth Anniversary "Victory Against Hunger Awards" (VAH Awards). The awards are twenty $1,000 grants to be presented to anti-hunger organizations, food banks, community food security, and organizations providing nutrition assistance and nutrition services to people with HIV/AIDS and other life threatening illnesses. The total unrestricted grants from Victory Wholesale Group have now reached $258,000 since their inception in 1993.
A panel of experts will choose awardees based on their success in achieving the goal expressed by this year's theme, "fighting hunger by using food as medicine for people with HIV/AIDS and other life threatening illnesses". This year's theme was chosen because evidence increasingly points to the importance of medically appropriate nutrition for the critically ill and the role it plays in delaying or preventing the progression to late-stage disease. The VAH Awards are part of CHC and the Association of Nutrition Services Agencies' (ANSA) national campaign promoting public awareness of "Food as Medicine" for people living with HIV/AIDS diabetes, breast cancer and other life threatening illnesses. The goal of the campaign is to assist these vulnerable populations in securing not only access to nutrition assistance programs like Food Stamps, WIC and CACFP, but also, locally grown foods, food bank food bags and high nutrient foods and nutrition services through ANSA member organizations. CHC and ANSA believe that hundreds of millions of dollars in unnecessary health care expenditures can be saved as a result of the actions of these leaders in the fight against hunger.
Awards were given to schools and local and statewide organizations that demonstrated success and creativity in “fighting hunger through developing and/or implementing local and state school meals wellness policies.” The Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act of 2004, championed by many of the members of Congress who nominated groups for these VAH awards, now requires schools to incorporate nutrition education, physical activity and improvements in the nutritional quality of all foods served in school as a pathway for educating this generation of children toward healthier eating habits and diet.
The annual VAH Awards were established by David Kantor, President of Victory Wholesale Group, to recognize outstanding organizations in the United States that work to end hunger and improve nutrition and health at the local level. Fifteen years ago Kantor teamed up with then-Congressional Hunger Center Chairman, Rep. Tony Hall, because each believed strongly in the value of keeping members of Congress involved in solving the problem of hunger. CHC's co-chairs, Rep. Jo Ann Emerson and Rep. James P. McGovern, are now carrying on this noble tradition.
Under the VAH Awards program, potential awardees may only be nominated by a member of U.S. Congress. The application process consists of a one or two page letter from a member of Congress to the Congressional Hunger Center highlighting the nominee's efforts in fighting hunger through the use of "food as medicine" theme. The nomination period is April 16th through June 15th. Awards will be announced on August 23rd at the annual ANSA meeting in Chicago. Nomination letters should be addressed to Victory Against Hunger, c/o Congressional Hunger Center at the address listed above. The name and telephone number (including area code) of a contact person from the Congressional office accepting the check, and the exact name that should be printed on the possible VAH check must accompany each nomination.
Founded in 1979, Victory Wholesale Group is a wholesale distributor of dry groceries and health and beauty care products. Victory is a national company, employing hundreds of people across the country that distributes to wholesalers and retailers across the United States and Puerto Rico.
Established in 1993, CHC's mission is to "fight hunger by developing leaders" who have a shared commitment to a nation and a world free from hunger. It embodies the spirit and goal of the former House Select Committee on Hunger, "to find real solutions to hunger and poverty." CHC administers the Bill Emerson National Hunger Fellows Program and the Mickey Leland International Hunger Fellows Program.
For additional information about the Congressional Hunger Center, please see our website at http://www.hungercenter.org
Tips on Winning a Victory Against Hunger Award
- Contact the local or Washington, DC office of the House or Senate member who represents the people in your area or state. There is no application for a VAH award. A member of Congress simply submits a one or two page letter describing how your organization has been engaged in any effort within the VAH theme of "Food as Medicine" for people with HIV/AIDS and other life threatening illnesses.
- Explain to the Congressional Office how the VAH awards program is a "win/win" situation in that members of Congress get an opportunity to recognize (with a private sector donated cash award) the valuable work of one of their constituent organizations. Each Congressional member will learn a great deal about nutritionally vulnerable populations in your community and become a program supporter while your organization will receive recognition for a job well done.
- Make sure that you give the Congressional office all the information it needs to clearly demonstrate that your organization is effectively developing and/or implementing a "Food as Medicine" program or project.
- Consideration is only given to nomination letters which include the name, address, and telephone number of a contact person in either the local or Washington, DC, Congressional office willing to accept the VAH award check.
- CHC normally receives more than 65 nominations. We encourage you to apply early to ensure receipt of materials by the deadline.
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