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SPRINGFIELD, Mo.— Ozarks Food Harvest and Clear Channel Radio’s Alice@95.5 FM’s 12th annual radiothon — HUNGERTHON — wrapped up this morning, collecting a grand total of $121,713 for The Food Bank’s Weekend Backpack Program™. The program provides severely at‐risk children with a backpack filled with nutritious child‐friendly foods for them to take home over the weekends.

Alice@95.5 personalities Kevin Howard and Liz Delany again hosted HUNGERTHON, which began last Friday morning at 6 am outside of the historic Tower Theater at Glenstone and Sunshine in Springfield. Those involved spent close to 30 hours throughout the weekend raising money for Ozarks Food Harvest.

This year’s goal of $120,000 was exceeded, providing just over 400 students with Weekend Backpack Program™ backpacks. The Musgrave Foundation donated the final $10,000 to HUNGERTHON in order for The Food Bank and Alice@95.5 to meet this year’s goal. As the top donor, the foundation was awarded St. Louis Cardinals tickets for the Diamond Box at Busch Stadium, courtesy of Bank of America. According to the foundation manager, Jerry Redfern, the tickets will be donated to the Boys & Girls Club – Musgrave Unit.

Several backpacks were matched by Commerce Bank, the Matt Miller Company, Kenny & Mary Ross, KPM CPAs, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railways, US Bancorp, Bank of America, Leslie Peck of Peck’s Insurance & Financial Services, Inc., The Daily Events and MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger.

The Springfield Independent Restaurant Association again donated several gift cards that were offered as incentives to donors. All Power Hour sponsors included Coyote’s Adobe Café (in Springfield and Nixa), Maria’s, Big Whiskey’s, Great Southern, Backyard Burgers, Springfield Brewing Company, Mille’s, Black Oak Mountain Amphitheatre, Showboat Branson Belle, White Water, Bank of America, Crusin USA, Family Pharmacy, Springfield Little Theater, Sonic, Avanzare, Silver Dollar City, Bob Evans, Rapid Roberts and Patton Alley Pub. The HUNGERTHON 2010 logo was designed by Martha Hartley of Running Horse Design.

If community members were unable to participate in the community‐wide event June 4‐7, Bank of America is hosting a food drive for Ozarks Food Harvest this week, beginning today at all Bank of America branches. Visit ozarksfoodharvest.org for a complete listing of the most needed food items. For more information call (417) 865‐3411.

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About Ozarks Food Harvest—The Food Bank
Ozarks Food Harvest is the only food bank in southwest Missouri, serving more than 350 hunger relief organizations across 29 Ozarks counties. The Food Bank distributed seven million pounds of food during its last fiscal year—the highest distribution in its 27‐year history—made possible due to its network of charities and direct‐relief programs such as the Weekend Backpack Program™, Kids Cafe® and the Mobile Food Pantry™ program. Learn more at ozarksfoodharvest.org.