HARRISONBURG, VA. (November 30, 2016) — Perdue, through the Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation, has invested in the academic success of local children with a $10,000 grant to support the Enhanced School-Based Mentoring Program of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Harrisonburg-Rockingham County. The award marks the sixth consecutive grant from the foundation to the local mentoring agency, totaling $65,000 since 2011.
Photo (Attached): On Wednesday at the Perdue facility in Bridgewater, Perdue Director of Operations Kenny Lambert and Human Resources Manager Maria Alonso present a check for $10,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters Assistant Director Lindsey Douglas
“We are honored to continue our support for the school-based mentoring program of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Rockingham County,” said Kenny Lambert, director of Perdue operations in Bridgewater, Va. “Mentors and relationships like the ones built through these programs can really have life-changing influence on the at-risk youth that benefit from them.” Lambert also serves on the Big Brothers Big Sisters Board of Directors.
Through its local operations in Bridgewater, Perdue has also provided over $13,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters’ annual Bowl for Kids’ Sake fundraising event since 2014 through sponsorship and team participation.
“Perdue continues to serve as a tremendous partner in promoting the academic, social, and emotional growth of children facing adversity in our community,” said Sue Totty, executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters. “This grant will directly impact nearly 75 local matches and will provide critical support to youth through our professionally-guided, one-to-one mentoring services.”
Among other improvements, evaluation data shows that children matched in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program progress academically, avoid risky behaviors such as drugs and truancy, develop better relationships with family and peers and experience higher self-confidence.
About Big Brothers Big Sisters of Harrisonburg-Rockingham County
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Harrisonburg-Rockingham County is a youth-services organization that pairs adult mentors in professionally guided, one-to-one matches with children facing adversity. As an affiliate of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, the nation’s largest donor and volunteer supported mentoring network, the organization holds itself accountable for children in the program to achieve positive, measurable outcomes through research-based methods. Among other improvements, local evaluation data shows that children served progress academically, avoid delinquency, and experience increased self-confidence. Founded locally in 1976 as an outreach of Trinity Presbyterian Church, the organization is the largest Big Brothers Big Sisters agency in the state of Virginia, on pace to serve over 600 children 2016. For more information, please call 540.433.8886 or visit www.bbbshr.org.
About Perdue Farms
We’re a third-generation, family owned, U.S. food and agriculture company. Through our belief in responsible food and agriculture, we are empowering consumers, customers and farmers through trusted choices in products and services. We focus on continuously improving everything we do, constantly learning, and sharing those insights across different production methods. That innovative approach is driving change throughout the company and onto farms. This continuous advancement is leading us toward our vision of becoming the most trusted name in food and agricultural products.
The PERDUE® brand is the number-one brand of fresh chicken in the U.S., and Perdue AgriBusiness is an international agricultural products and services company. As we approach our 100th anniversary in 2020, our path forward is about getting better, not just bigger. We never use drugs for growth promotion in raising poultry and livestock, and we are actively advancing our animal welfare programs. Our brands are leaders in no-antibiotics-ever chicken, turkey and pork, and in USDA-certified organic chicken. We’ve increased our support for the family farm by creating new markets, including specialty crops. Through agricultural services, we give farmers more options for the acre, including conversion to organic production and products and services that increase the sustainability of conventional agriculture. Learn more at www.perduefarms.com.
About The Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation
The Franklin P. and Arthur W. Perdue Foundation, the charitable giving arm of Perdue Farms, was established in 1957 by company founder Arthur W. Perdue and is funded through the estates of Arthur W. Perdue and Frank Perdue. As part of our belief in supporting the communities where and with whom we do business, the Foundation provides grants on behalf of Perdue Farms in communities where large numbers of our associates live and work. At Perdue Farms, we believe in responsible food and agriculture.®