Eckrich Continues to Honor and Support Military Families with Operation Homefront Partnership

LISLE, Ill., April 30, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Extending a three-year effort to honor, thank and support military families, Eckrich today announced its continued partnership with Operation Homefront, a national nonprofit that provides emergency financial and other assistance to the families of service members and wounded warriors.  The national campaign provides financial support and life-changing moments to Operation Homefront families.

As part of the partnership, Eckrich, a brand of Smithfield Foods and the makers of naturally hardwood smoked sausage and deli meats, will donate five cents for every purchase of specially marked products from May 1^st through July 4^th up to $250,000.  Over the program's three-year history, Eckrich has donated over $750,000 to Operation Homefront. By the end of this year's fundraising period, the expected total donation will surpass $1 million.

Operation Homefront provides relief to avert financial crisis through emergency aid, housing and caregiver programs along with family support activities to recognize the service and sacrifice of military life. In addition to the financial commitment to the organization, Eckrich will also continue to support Operation Homefront military families by providing once-in-a-lifetime experiences with support from some of the biggest names in sports and entertainment.

The Eckrich campaign continues to be assisted by Richard Petty Motorsports, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series winner Aric Almirola and NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee and American Icon, Richard Petty.  In addition, ESPN and ABC college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit will carry on his role as campaign ambassador throughout the year at various events.  Platinum-selling country music star Randy Houser will also join the Eckrich team for the second year as he continues to give back to military families at concerts across the country.

"Through this impactful partnership, Eckrich is proud to broaden our support of and pay tribute to America's heroes and their families," said Chuck Gitkin, Senior Vice President, Marketing, Smithfield Foods. "As we begin our fourth year of this partnership and approach the $1 million mark, we remain committed to spreading awareness of the important efforts of Operation Homefront.  We are looking forward to another year of memorable experiences, and the opportunity to continue to help Operation Homefront provide essential resources and programs to military families across the country."

"Helping military and veteran families in their times of need with resources that promote their long-term sustainability wouldn't be possible if not for the unwavering support of partners like Eckrich," said Tim Farrell, Chief Operating Officer of Operation Homefront.  "We're grateful for the continued support and looking forward to touching more lives of those who so selflessly serve all of us."

For more information about the program, please visit www.facebook.com/EckrichMeats.

For more information about Eckrich, please visit www.eckrich.com.

About Eckrich 
Founded by Peter Eckrich in 1894, Eckrich has a rich heritage starting from a small meat market in Fort Wayne, Ind. Through it all, Eckrich meats have been recognized for their great taste and supreme quality, craftsmanship, care and pride. For more information, visit www.eckrich.com.

About Smithfield Foods
Smithfield Foods is a $15 billion global food company and the world's largest pork processor and hog producer. In the United States, the company is also the leader in numerous packaged meats categories with popular brands including Smithfield®, Eckrich®, Farmland®, Armour®, Cook's®, Gwaltney®, John Morrell®, Kretschmar®, Curly's®, Carando®, Margherita®, and Healthy Ones®. Smithfield Foods is committed to providing good food in a responsible way and maintains robust animal care, community involvement, employee safety, environmental, and food safety and quality programs. For more information, visit www.smithfieldfoods.com and www.smithfieldcommitments.com.

About Operation Homefront: 
A national nonprofit, Operation Homefront leads more than 2,500 volunteers with nationwide presence who provide emergency and other financial assistance to the families of service members and wounded warriors. Operation Homefront has provided assistance to thousands of military families since its inception in 2002. Recognized for superior performance by leading independent charity watchdog groups, nationally, 92 percent of Operation Homefront's expenditures go directly to programs that provide support to our military families. For more information, go to www.OperationHomefront.net.

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