WASHINGTON, DC – The Food Research and Action Center (FRAC), one of the nation’s leading hunger groups, this evening presented Awards to four individuals for their extraordinary efforts to combat hunger in the United States and support the work of FRAC. U.S. Representative George Miller (D-CA), Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Pathmark Stores CEO Eileen Scott and Communications Workers of America (CWA) Lobbyist Lou Gerber were all honored for their leadership, their advocacy and their tireless efforts.

“These four individuals are true partners in FRAC’s ongoing campaign to end hunger in our country,” said FRAC President Jim Weill. “Each has shown sterling leadership in spearheading and supporting myriad efforts to improve child nutrition programs, help low-income families and bring an end to hunger and food insecurity and support the work of FRAC.”

Representative Miller is widely recognized as one of the “Fathers of the WIC Program (Women Infants and Children)” and is a longtime champion of social programs to assist children and low-income families. As the founding chairman of the House Select Committee on Children, Youth and Families, Rep. Miller has led efforts to prevent budget cuts in programs for children, nutrition, education, public housing, workplace safety and health care. He has worked to ensure access and improve the quality of meals and snacks for children in school and out-of-school-time programs. 2004 marks the 30th anniversary of the WIC Program.

Throughout her career, Senator Snowe has been a consistent and vocal supporter of human needs programs. In Congress, Senator Snowe has championed nutrition programs, cosponsoring numerous bills to improve and expand low-income children’s access to federal nutrition programs. She recently led bipartisan efforts to increase funding for child care in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) reauthorization bill and to expand the refundable Child Tax Credit.

Pathmark Stores has been a leader on anti-hunger issues in the supermarket community. Pathmark Stores has conducted extensive outreach on food stamps and taken other important measures to ensure that low-income people are participating in crucial nutrition programs.

For more than two decades, Lou Gerber has played a key role in garnering support for FRAC’s work in the labor and telecommunications communities. His work has greatly increased FRAC’s ability to reach out to policy makers in support of crucial legislation and to advocates to ensure that low-income families are aware of available nutrition programs.

The mistress of ceremonies for the dinner was actress S. Epatha Merkerson, who portrays Lieutenant Anita Van Buren on NBC’s acclaimed hit drama series, “Law and Order.”

The Food Research and Action Center (www.frac.org) is the leading national organization working for more effective public and private policies to eradicate domestic hunger and undernutrition.

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Remarks by Jim Weill, FRAC President

Remarks by Rep. George Miller

Remarks by Sen. Olympia Snowe

Remarks by Lou Gerber, Communications Workers of America

Remarks by Eileen Scott, CEO of Pathmark Stores