Nathan's Famous Grants Imagination Playgrounds, $2,000 of Groceries from A&P to Carey Gardens and O'Dwyer Gardens

LISLE, Ill., June 4, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Nathan's Famous, the world-renowned hot dog company, celebrated leaders in the Coney Island community, yesterday, who make active play possible as part of its Ready. Set. PLAY. initiative with national non-profit KaBOOM!.

Bruce Miller, Senior Director of Operations for Nathan's Famous, officially unveiled two Imagination Playground systems that the company granted to Carey Gardens and O'Dwyer Gardens this past April, and presented representatives from each with a $1,000 gift card to The Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company's family of supermarkets, specifically Pathmark and Waldbaum's, to be used for groceries, courtesy of Nathan's Famous.

Nathan's Famous has been committed to helping rebuild communities impacted in 2012 by Hurricane Sandy. These Imagination Playground grants provide an emotional, mental and physical outlet as the superstorm's destruction has limited recreational space for the children of the community.

"Children living in Coney Island have had few opportunities to play and limited recreational space since the storm, and these Imagination Playground systems will bring the kids one step closer to having the childhood they deserve," said Wayne Norbitz, President of Nathan's Famous.

"I, along with other members of the Coney Island Alliance, want to ensure that our community is healthy and thriving," added Norbitz. "Providing a recreational outlet, for both mind and body, is essential for the growth of our youth. We cannot thank the kind people at Carey Gardens and O'Dwyer Gardens enough as the two organizations have an incredible impact on the development of our area's youth, championing both physical and emotional growth."

Using Imagination Playground blocks, kids can build a new world every day. Because Imagination Playground is child-directed and open-ended, it encourages self-expression through deep, joyful play.

Traditional playgrounds consist primarily of fixed equipment, such as slides, monkey bars and teeter-totters, all of which focus on developing children's gross motor skills. Imagination Playgrounds are made up of loose parts that prompt children to transform their environment and create a play space of their own.

"We are thrilled that HeartShare St. Vincent Services was nominated for the Imagination Playground experience, which further enhances the physical, emotional and social benefits of at-risk children and teens participating in our youth programs," said HeartShare St. Vincent's Services (HSVS) Executive Director Dawn Saffayeh. "We are also incredibly grateful for the $2,000 donation, as our children often enjoy nutritional meals and snacks at our after-school programs."

HSVS, an affiliate of HeartShare Human Services of New York, opened its Carey Gardens and O'Dwyer Cornerstone Programs last year after displacement of its Coney Island youth programs following Superstorm Sandy.

The Ready. Set. PLAY. initiative is a partnership created in 2014 by Nathan's Famous with KaBOOM!. Ready. Set. PLAY. celebrates play and the local leaders who are making active play possible in communities across the nation.

Nathan's Famous was founded almost 100 years ago in Coney Island, a popular New York City amusement and leisure destination.  Nathan's Famous prides itself on its great quality, unmistakable taste, and a passion for family fun and community support.

Nathan's Famous is a licensed brand of Smithfield Foods.

About Nathan's Famous
Nathan's is a Russell 2000 Company that currently distributes its products in 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Cayman Islands and nine foreign countries through its restaurant system, foodservice sales programs and product licensing activities. Nathan's was ranked #55 on the Forbes list of the Best Small Companies in America and was listed as the Best Small Company in New York State in October 2013. Last year, over 500 million Nathan's Famous hot dogs were sold. For additional information about Nathan's please visit our website at www.nathansfamous.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®, John Morrell®, Gwaltney®, Nathan's Famous®, Kretschmar®, Margherita®, Curly's®, Carando® 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 KaBOOM!
KaBOOM! is the national non-profit dedicated to giving all kids – particularly those growing up in poverty in America – the childhood they deserve filled with balanced and active play, so they can thrive. Since 1996, KaBOOM! has collaborated with partners to build, open or improve nearly 16,300 playgrounds, engaged more than one million volunteers and served 8.1 million kids. KaBOOM! creates great places to play, inspires communities to promote and support play, and works to drive the national discussion about the importance of play in fostering healthy and productive lives. To learn why #playmatters: visit kaboom.org or join the conversation at twitter.com/kaboom or facebook.com/kaboom.

About HeartShare Human Services of New York:
HeartShare Human Services of New York serves over 42,200 New Yorkers. Its array of programs assist children and adults diagnosed with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including autism spectrum disorders, through numerous programs, including educational, life skills and vocational training, residential, case management, recreational, family support and full diagnostic health care services. Through its affiliates – HeartShare St. Vincent's Services, HeartShare Wellness and The HeartShare School, HeartShare also provides foster care and adoption services; after school and community/family support services; youth development and residential services; integrated health services; and school-age programs that focus on those diagnosed with autism. Additionally, HeartShare administers low-income energy assistance programs, in partnership with National Grid, New York State Electric & Gas Corporation (NYSEG), Rochester Gas and Electric Corporation (RG&E), Consolidated Edison and Entergy, throughout New York State. Since its founding in 1914, HeartShare has expanded to nearly 100 program sites across Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island.

HeartShare is proud that 90% of all revenue goes directly in its programs and services. HeartShare is accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Services for Families and Children and is a Better Business Bureau Accredited Charity. For more information, visit www.heartshare.org. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @heartshare and like us on Facebook.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150604/220857

SOURCE Nathan's Famous

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