January 31, 2014

USPOULTRY Foundation gets US$7.7 million pledges for poultry industry's sustainability

The US Poultry & Egg Harold E. Ford Foundation has launched the Ensuring the Future campaign to enhance the sustainability and prosperity of the poultry and egg industry and more than US$7.7 million in commitments have been pledged for the campaign.

The campaign was announced during the Foundation Executive Luncheon at the International Production & Processing Expo.

"The purpose of the Foundation is to attract bright young people to the poultry industry and fund important research," said campaign co-chairman Elton Maddox, president and chief executive officer of Wayne Farms.

The USPOULTRY Foundation serves all segments of the poultry and egg industry, investing millions of dollars for recruiting students and funding research.

"We have benefitted from great leadership during the preliminary phase of the campaign," commented John Starkey, USPOULTRY president. "And we have been energised as we listened to industry leaders about how the USPOULTRY Foundation can be an even more valuable partner and resource in 2014 and beyond."

"The tremendous support from Foundation donors means that we can increase significantly the funding invested back into the industry. It will expand vital research and youth programmes that help attract students to poultry and related majors and ultimately into careers in the poultry and egg industry," Starkey said.

"In addition to making a big difference in the future of the industry, we are able to offer donors significant and on-going recognition," said Starkey.