SEATTLE, June 7, 2010 — At a recent forum in Seattle, Washington, Blaine Hirai of Annie's Fun and Hirai Farms was recognized by Sodexo (http://www.sodexo.com) for his support of Sodexo's Stop Hunger Initiative (http://www.sodexofoundation.org) and for his work to help provide food to people and families in need in the Pacific Northwest.
During the forum, George Chavel, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Sodexo North America, and Kerwin Higashi, Senior Vice President of Sodexo's NW Metropolitan Business Group, presented Blaine Hirai with a special award "in recognition of his partnership and support of the Sodexo NW Metropolitan Business Group and his outstanding efforts to help feed those in need."
During his acceptance of the award from Sodexo, Blaine Hirai thanked Sodexo and commended George Chavel and Kerwin Higashi for their leadership and commitment (via Sodexo's Stop Hunger Initiative) in helping people who face hunger and malnutrition. "I am proud to work with Sodexo to help donate food and serve meals to needy people in local communities," said Hirai.
In addition, Blaine Hirai highlighted some of the following recent volunteer and food donation partnerships between Sodexo's NW Metropolitan Business Group and Annie's Fun/Hirai Farms, which have resulted in nearly 1.6 million pounds of food being donated in the last two years to various food banks in the Pacific Northwest, including Northwest Harvest, Second Harvest Inland Northwest, Food Lifeline, White Center Food Bank, Wenatchee Food Bank, Quincy Food Bank, etc.
1. Sodexo, Hirai Farms and Annie's Fun Make Large Donation of Potatoes to Second Harvest (May 6, 2010)
http://www.perishablenews.com/index.php?article=0006544
http://www.agweekly.com/articles/2010/06/06/news/ag_news/news90.txt
2. Sodexo, Hirai Farms, Annie's Fun, and Pepsico/Frito-Lay Hold Special Food Donation and Volunteer Event at Food Lifeline (April 13, 2010)
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=SodexoChannel#p/search/0/aBJ2dekfQUQ
3. Sodexo, Hirai Farms, Annie's Fun, Gonzaga and McCain Foods Partner to Provide Food for Holiday Meals (November 16, 2009)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BB6QWZ4pgK0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=669MGjdWvVc&feature=channel
4. Sodexo and Annie's Fun/Hirai Farms hold Special Reception in Support of Food Banks (September 15, 2009)
http://www.pr-inside.com/print1487903.htm
5. Food and Agricultural Entities Team Up to Do Major Food Donation and Volunteer Event at Northwest Harvest (April 13, 2009)
http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/south_king/ken/news/43389842.html?period=W&mpStartDate=05-13-2010
For more information about the recent award presentation, contact Blaine Hirai of Annie's Fun at (509) 693-7811 or Email.
To see photos of the award presentation, click on the following links:
http://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B5p5QpqTVnscNDI4NjliNDMtYjNiZi00MzM4LTkzYjItYjcyY2JlODkxYjMz&hl=en
http://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B5p5QpqTVnscYmIxNjc4MzMtZDc4ZS00ZmNjLWE4MzktNGI1Yzk4ODIyYTEw&hl=en
http://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B5p5QpqTVnscNzYyYTdkNTctOTZkMC00ZTMyLTllOTEtZGViZDZlMzJhNDk2&hl=en
http://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B5p5QpqTVnscMTFlN2Y3ZjQtZDc1Zi00MWI1LWI0NWUtMzg2Y2I3YWEzZWEy&hl=en
http://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B5p5QpqTVnscZTYyYjAwNWMtM2JhNy00MjNiLTliZTgtMmE0ZGQ5ZTU3NDgx&hl=en
https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B5p5QpqTVnscNTk1MDk5ZTItMzhlOS00N2Q4LTk4ZWUtMDkxODlkNGQ4NWY4&hl=en
About Hirai Farms / Annie's Fun
Hirai Farms is a family-owned and -operated business in the Columbia Basin of Washington State since 1954. Blaine Hirai and the Hirai family maintain a strong tradition of giving back to local communities in the Pacific Northwest. In 2005, the Hirai family created "Annie's Fun," a non-profit, charitable 501(c)(3) organization, named after Blaine's mother, to help those in need. In the past couple of years, Blaine Hirai and Annie's Fun ) have donated several hundred thousand pounds of potatoes, onions and sweet corn to several food banks in Pacific Northwest.
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