Participant Media, The League of American Orchestras and Feeding America Team Up for National Food Drive Inspired by the Upcoming Film 'The Soloist'

Inspired by the upcoming film The Soloist, the League of American Orchestras; Feeding America, the nation’s largest hunger relief organization; and Participant Media have joined forces for Orchestras Feeding America, a large-scale national food drive that will take place on March 27 and 28 (dates may vary by locality; check with your local orchestra). More than 160 orchestras in 45 states (numbers increasing daily) will participate in this unprecedented coordinated effort by collecting and donating food to their local food assistance agency or food bank within Feeding America’s network of more than 200 food banks and 63,000 agencies. The joint announcement was made today by Jim Berk, CEO of Participant Media, Jesse Rosen, President and CEO of the League of American Orchestras, and Vicki Escarra, President and CEO of Feeding America.

For more information about Orchestras Feeding America, including a list of participating orchestras, please visit the League’s website americanorchestras.org.

Jim Berk, Participant CEO, remarked, “This unprecedented partnership with the League of American Orchestras and Feeding America for a national food drive in connection with the release of The Soloist is a perfect example of how we at Participant use our entertainment projects as catalysts to inspire social change.”

League President and CEO Jesse Rosen commented, “The story of The Soloist reminds us that classical music has the power to sustain spirits and change lives, even under the most difficult circumstances. Our team effort with Feeding America and The Soloist gives America’s orchestras a way to use that power to make an even greater difference in our communities -- to feed both body and soul.”

Vicki Escarra, Feeding America President and CEO, said, “Feeding America is thrilled that America’s orchestras are joining us in our fight against hunger in America. This partnership will help the hungry in nearly every community nationwide and the 36 million people who are at risk of hunger.”

One in eight Americans is at risk of hunger. According to the USDA, there are 36 million people at risk of hunger in the US, 12 million of whom are children. In December 2008, Feeding America conducted a survey of 160 food banks nationwide – the results were troubling, with food banks reporting a 30 percent increase in demand for emergency food assistance, compared to one year ago.

The Soloist, starring Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey, Jr., directed by Joe Wright, will be released by Paramount Pictures to theaters nationwide on April 24. A DreamWorks Pictures/Universal Pictures presentation in association with StudioCanal and Participant Media, the film is based on the true story of the relationship between Los Angeles Times columnist Steve Lopez and Nathaniel Anthony Ayers, a gifted Juilliard-trained string player whose mental illness landed him among the homeless on the streets of Los Angeles. Featuring the Los Angeles Philharmonic, The Soloist is a testament to the redemptive power of music and a reminder of our connections to the most vulnerable among us.

America’s symphony, chamber, collegiate, and youth orchestras touch the lives of nearly 30 million people annually, in all 50 states and in virtually every community. In 2006-07 America’s orchestras performed more than 37,000 concerts, of which nearly half were dedicated to engaging young people and the broader community in the musical experience. Nearly 25% of the music performed by American orchestras was written by American composers; in 2007-08 the programs ranged from beloved classics to more than 120 world premieres.

About Participant Media--Participant Media is a Los Angeles-based entertainment company that focuses on socially relevant, commercially viable feature films, documentaries and television, as well as publishing and digital media. Participant Media is headed by CEO Jim Berk and was founded in 2004 by philanthropist Jeff Skoll, who serves as Chairman. Ricky Strauss is President. Participant exists to tell compelling, entertaining stories that bring to the forefront real issues that shape our lives. For each of its projects, Participant creates extensive social action and advocacy programs that provide ideas and tools to transform the impact of the media experience into individual and community action. Participant’s films include The Kite Runner, Charlie Wilson’s War, Darfur Now, An Inconvenient Truth, Good Night and Good Luck, Syriana, Standard Operating Procedure and The Visitor. For more information, visit participantmedia.com.

About Feeding America--(Formerly named America's Second Harvest -- The Nation's Food Bank Network)  Feeding America provides individuals and families facing hunger with the fuel to survive and even thrive. As the nation's largest domestic hunger-relief charity, our network members supply food to more than 25 million Americans each year, including 9 million children and 3 million seniors. Serving the entire United States, more than 200 member food banks operate 63,000 agencies that address hunger through emergency food assistance and programs. For more information on how you can fight hunger in your community and across the country, visit feedingamerica.org.

About the League of American Orchestras--The League of American Orchestras leads, encourages, supports, and serves orchestras as they assure the vitality of the musical experience, strengthen their organizations, and deepen their connections with their public and their communities. Founded in 1942, the League serves member symphony, chamber, youth, and university orchestras of all sizes, and supports a network of thousands of administrators, board members, musicians, conductors, volunteers, and business partners. Visit americanorchestras.org to learn more.

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