Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Roy Williams is joining Pizza Hut and Yum! Brands in a global Hunger Relief effort. Williams issued a challenge to players in three other cities to see who could raise the most money for hunger relief.
“Every six seconds a child dies from hunger somewhere in the world,” sys Roy Williams, wide receiver, Dallas Cowboys. “Hearing this fact inspired me to get involved and do something. I’m proud to be a part of the ‘Hunger to Hope’ program and I want to do everything I can to help end hunger.”
“Each of us can make a difference and together we can really make a change,” Williams says. “That’s why I’m challenging three other players to put on a uniform in a Pizza Hut restaurant for just one day to collect donations and see who can collect the most. We’re all competitive guys, so this should get interesting.
Williams and three football opponents will race to accept the most donations on Tuesday, October 21. The players will collect tips and donations from generous patrons at participating Pizza Hut restaurants in their cities. Participating players include:
— Roy Williams, Dallas Cowboys (formerly of the Detroit Lions)
— Mark Clayton, Baltimore Ravens
— Davin Joseph, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
— Chris Spencer, Seattle Seahawks
“We’re honored that Williams has lead the charge with his fellow players to benefit this very worthwhile cause,” says Scott Bergren, Pizza Hut President. “Our goal is to double last year’s record by raising more than one million dollars at Pizza Hut restaurants by the end of this month, and we couldn’t reach it without the generous support of our customers and guys like Roy.”
The player whose city raises the most money as an average per participating restaurant will receive a catered pizza party for their team. All players are receiving pizza and pasta for a year as a thank you from Pizza Hut.
Last year, Williams raised $10,000 for the World Hunger Relief campaign after delivering pizzas for Pizza Hut in Detroit. The wide receiver publicly commented that he didn’t tip pizza delivery drivers as he was unsure of the protocol. Pizza Hut challenged him to walk in the shoes of a driver and Williams graciously obliged raising money for charity in the process.
Pizza Hut participates in World Hunger Relief as a Yum! brand. World Hunger Relief supports the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and other hunger relief agencies. Nearly 36,000 company and franchised restaurants located in more than 100 countries will be participating, including KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, Long John Silver’s, and A&W All-American Food.
This year, Mariah Carey is the Hunger Relief Ambassador with the quote, “The change from hunger to hope starts with you.” Customers who donate to the World Hunger Relief campaign at participating restaurants around the globe will receive a free download of her song, “Love Story” from her newest CD E=MC2.
Funds raised for WFP go directly to the areas of greatest need, feeding poor school children in the developing world and helping villages become self-sustainable. Every U.S. dollar raised during World Hunger Relief 2008 will provide four meals for hungry children all over the world. The company’s employees and franchisees will be volunteering their time around the globe at hunger relief agencies, food banks, soup kitchens, and launching fundraisers.
During this year’s World Hunger Relief campaign, Yum! plans to generate the equivalent of nearly $50 million in awareness of the hunger issue through television and print advertising, public service announcements, public relations, web-based communications and in-restaurant posters and signage.
