OMAHA, Neb., Oct. 19, 2015 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Marie Callender’s®, a brand of ConAgra Foods [NYSE: CAG], announced the return of the Comforts From Home Project, a partnership with the United Service Organizations (USO) that’s committed to bringing the heartwarming feelings, flavors, and favorites of home to those who miss it most. In its second year, the Comforts From Home Project invites consumers to support USO Operation Celebration™, a program dedicated to celebrating holidays and other special occasions for service members and military families who are missing the comforts of home during these special times. The program brings food, decorations and games to USO locations around the world so that our nation’s military community can celebrate special occasions no matter where they are serving.  

Photo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151016/277849
Logo – http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151016/277850LOGO

From September 1, 2015 through January 29, 2016, consumers can help give to USO Operation Celebration by entering the on-pack code from one of the more than approximately 55 million specially marked packages of Marie Callender’s frozen meals or desserts at www.ComfortsFromHome.com. Marie Callender’s will donate $.50 to USO Operation Celebration for each code entered[1].

“Last year, with consumers’ overwhelming support, Marie Callender’s brought care packages to a very deserving group of servicemen and women stationed overseas through a $250,000 donation to the USO2GO program,” said Christiane Brocky, vice president and general manager, ConAgra Foods. “This year, we’re proud to support USO Operation Celebration to help bring a taste of home and its comforts to our troops when their service takes them away from family and friends during the holidays and other special occasions.”

In addition to the on-pack promotion, the 2015 Comforts From Home Project will partner again with Scripps Networks to highlight military families and their service through three popular television shows: Guy’s Grocery Games (Food Network), Kitchen Crashers (HGTV and DIY Network) and Travel Channel’s American Heroes (Travel Channel). Each television program offers a unique way to give back to those who defend our homes every day and will feature a social media integration to engage consumers online. Scripps Networks will also re-air the one-hour program, A Hero’s Welcome, which features a heartwarming homecoming event for one retiring soldier, on Veterans Day on Food Network.

“By supporting the USO’s Operation Celebration program, Marie Callender’s is helping us bridge the gap between home and our troops,” said Lisa Anastasi, USO Chief Development Officer. “From the Fourth of July to Thanksgiving, the USO is dedicated to helping troops enjoy every holiday with the comforts of home that can often be taken for granted, such as seasonal meals, entertainment and a chance to relax away from the stresses of military duty.”

In addition to the on-pack promotion and television integrations, the Comforts From Home Project will be supported with a robust marketing campaign that includes in-store signage, a free standing newspaper insert, a magazine outsert in the November issues of Allrecipes, Better Homes & Gardens, Every Day with Rachael Ray, Martha Stewart Living and Taste of Home, as well as digital and social media support.

Visit www.ComfortsFromHome.com to learn more about the on-pack promotion, the USO Operation Celebration program and the Scripps Networks TV specials airing this fall. Consumers can also see how many codes have been entered with the real-time code tracker.

ABOUT CONAGRA FOODS
ConAgra Foods, Inc. (NYSE: CAG) is one of North America’s largest packaged food companies with branded and private branded food found in 99 percent of America’s households, as well as a strong commercial foods business serving restaurants and foodservice operations globally. Consumers can find recognized brands such as Banquet®, Chef Boyardee®, Egg Beaters®, Healthy Choice®, Hebrew National®, Hunt’s®, Marie Callender’s®, Orville Redenbacher’s®, PAM®, Peter Pan®, Reddi-wip®, Slim Jim®, Snack Pack® and many other ConAgra Foods brands, along with food sold by ConAgra Foods under private brand labels, in grocery, convenience, mass merchandise, club and drug stores. Additionally, ConAgra Foods supplies frozen potato and sweet potato items as well as other vegetable, spice, and bakery goods to commercial and foodservice customers. ConAgra Foods operates ReadySetEat.com, an interactive recipe website that provides consumers with easy dinner recipes and more. For more information, please visit us at www.conagrafoods.com.

About the USO
The USO lifts the spirits of America’s troops and their families millions of times each year at hundreds of places worldwide. We provide a touch of home through centers at airports and military bases in the U.S. and abroad, top quality entertainment and innovative programs and services. We also provide critical support to those who need us most, including forward-deployed troops, military families, wounded warriors, troops in transition and families of the fallen. The USO is a private, non-profit organization, not a government agency. Our programs and services are made possible by the American people, support of our corporate partners and the dedication of our volunteers and staff.

In addition to individual donors and corporate sponsors, the USO is supported by President’s Circle Partners: AT&T, BNSF Railway, Clark Construction Group, LLC, The Coca-Cola Company, JCPenney, Johnson & Johnson, Kroger, Northrop Grumman Corporation and Four-Star Partners: BIC, ConAgra Foods, FedEx, GEICO, Harris Teeter, Jeep, Lockheed Martin, Microsoft Corporation, NFL, Procter & Gamble, TKS Telepost Kabel-Service Kaiserslautern GmbH & Co. KG and Wawa Inc. We are also supported through the United Way and Combined Federal Campaign (CFC-11381). To join us in this important mission, and to learn more about the USO, please visit uso.org.

[1] For every entry by 1/29/16 of an 8-digit code found on participating products, Marie Callender’s will donate $.50 to the USO Operation Celebration™.  Guaranteed minimum donation: $100,000.  Maximum donation: $300,000. Limit 5 code entries per person/computer each day. Valid in U.S. only. ConAgra Foods, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

For more information, please contact:
Kayla Jaroch, Edelman
312-240-3156
[email protected]

Amy Morgan, ConAgra Foods
630-857-1120
[email protected]

www.ComfortsFromHome.com
www.MarieCallendersMeals.com
www.ConagraFoods.com