FAYETTEVILLE – A record number of Razorback student-athletes teamed up with Lift Up America, Tyson Foods Inc. and the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank on Saturday morning to help bring the gift of food to the area’s less fortunate.

For the fifth year in a row, Razorback student-athletes from 19 intercollegiate athletic programs were on hand to help unload the food during the donation announcement which took place at the Broyles Athletic Center. The 140 student-athletes taking part marked a new benchmark for participation in the program at the University of Arkansas, topping the total of 122 student-athletes who participated last year.

Tyson donated more than 32,000 pounds of food that was distributed by the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank and 67 of its partner agencies. The donation event began with a news conference and was followed by the food distribution. Speakers at the press conference included Eric Wood, associate athletic director for student-athlete development, Marge Wolf, president and CEO of NWA Food Bank and Sara Lilygren of Tyson Foods.

“Lift Up America is a great opportunity for our student-athletes to help feed those in need in our community,” Wood said. “This event has really become a cornerstone of our community outreach program. We are grateful to Lift Up America and Tyson Foods, Inc. for allowing us to be part of this tremendous event. Last year, our student-athletes set a record for community service. This year, we have already bypassed that mark by early March. We are proud of their efforts and will continue to teach our student-athletes the importance of giving back and making a difference in the lives of others throughout our state and beyond.” 

In 2010-11, Razorback student-athletes volunteered more 3,300 hours for 78 agencies and organizations. So far this school year, student-athletes have logged more than 3,500 hours for 100 charitable organizations.

Lift Up America, founded in 2004, is a collaborative effort of companies including Tyson, Ty and Give the Gift of Sight (a Luxottica Group Foundation), working with professional and college sports teams and local nonprofit agencies to provide the gifts of food, sight, hearing, hope and comfort to our nation’s less fortunate.  

“In this critical time of need for so many hungry families, it is encouraging to see these caring organizations come together to lift the human spirit of others,” Eric Hannah, president of Lift Up America said.

Tyson Foods, Inc. and Lift Up America have partnered up on numerous outreach projects including the event at the University of Arkansas.

“It makes sense for our company to donate protein to feed people in need, especially here in Northwest Arkansas, where Tyson is based,” Sara Lilygren, senior vice president of external relations for Tyson said. “We also believe in raising hunger awareness because one of the keys to ending hunger in the U.S. is mobilizing more people to join the fight. We encourage people across the nation, including our own team members, to engage with this important social issue, and get involved.”

Protein is an excellent source of energy and an important part of a healthy diet. Unfortunately, protein is the item that is donated to food banks the least. The chicken donated by Tyson is one of the most concentrated sources of protein—an essential nutrient of life.

“At the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank, we provide low-cost food to the hundreds of pantries and agencies that are on the front lines of hunger relief,” Wolf says. “Donations of poultry and other high protein foods are especially valuable as they allow us to provide our clients with more healthy, nutritious options.”