~500+ employees in 40 global locations fight hunger in week-long volunteer kickoff event~
VICTOR, N.Y., OCT. 20, 2014 - Constellation Brands, Inc. today announced the launch of Nourishing Neighbors, a global initiative to help fight hunger in the communities where its employees work and live. This first-ever global coordinated effort kicks off this week with employees donating time, food and resources to help fight hunger in their local communities.
From October 20 to 25, 2014, more than 500 Constellation employees over 40 locations across the world will volunteer their time - an estimated 2,000 volunteer hours in total - to local food banks, saving them more than $30,000 in labor costs. All 43 U.S., Canada and New Zealand company locations will also carry food drop-off bins to amplify the effort.
In addition to food and volunteer hour donations, company and employee monetary donations will help support global organizations fighting childhood hunger, including Blessings in a Backpack (http://www.blessingsinabackpack.org/) (U.S. and Canada), KidsCan (http://www.kidscan.org.nz/) (New Zealand), and Banco de Alimentos Piedras Negras (http://www.bancodealimentospn.org/) (Mexico). Collectively, donations to these three organizations will provide more than 700 children with meals every weekend for an entire school year.
"Food insecurity in our communities is one of the causes that our employees are most passionate about," said Rob Sands, president and chief executive officer, Constellation Brands. "And with good reason: more than 30 million residents in the states and countries where Constellation employees live and work don't know where they'll get their next meal. Nourishing Neighbors is our commitment to battling this issue to make our communities stronger."
Nourishing Neighbors was established in response to the existing local grassroots efforts led by Constellation Brands employees to fight hunger in their communities. The goal of the initiative is to formalize and enhance employees' efforts to fight hunger through a unified, company-wide strategy to make an even greater impact.
Ginny Clark, senior vice president public affairs, Constellation Brands states, "Our Corporate Social Responsibility commitment reaches back to the company's earliest days and we believe that our long-term success is tied directly to our ability to make a positive and lasting difference in the communities where we operate around the world. Combating hunger is an initiative we recognize as a priority and elevating our Nourishing Neighbors program to a global level solidifies our commitment and leverages our own growing geographic footprint to help those in need."
About Constellation Brands
Constellation Brands (NYSE: STZ and STZ.B) is a leading international producer and marketer of beer, wine and spirits with operations in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, New Zealand and Italy. In 2013, Constellation was one of the best performing stocks in the S&P 500. Constellation is the number three beer company in the U.S. with high-end, iconic, imported brands including Corona Extra, Corona Light, Modelo Especial, Negra Modelo and Pacifico. Constellation is also the world's leader in premium wine selling great brands that people love including Robert Mondavi, Clos du Bois, Kim Crawford, Rex Goliath, Mark West, Franciscan Estate, Ruffino and Jackson-Triggs. The company's premium spirits brands include SVEDKA Vodka and Black Velvet Canadian Whisky.
Based in Victor, N.Y., the company believes that industry leadership involves a commitment to brand-building, our trade partners, the environment, our investors and to consumers around the world who choose our products when celebrating big moments or enjoying quiet ones. Founded in 1945, Constellation has grown to become a significant player in the beverage alcohol industry with more than 100 brands in its portfolio, sales in approximately 100 countries, about 40 facilities and approximately 6,300 talented employees. We express our company vision: to elevate life with every glass raised. To learn more, visit www.cbrands.com.
CONTACTS:
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Source: Constellation Brands Inc via Globenewswire
