St. Anthony's and Glide Host The University of Illinois and UCLA Football Teams For A Pre-Bowl Game Huddle To End Hunger

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Fifty-five football players from the University of Illinois Fighting Illini will sport team jerseys and join the front lines in the fight against hunger at St. Anthony's on Friday, December 30th from 10am to 1pm.  St. Anthony's estimates players will serve over 3,000 meals, generously provided by the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl, to some of San Francisco's neediest individuals and families.  A few blocks away, the Bruins of UCLA will join the same fight against hunger at Glide Memorial Church.  Given that one in five San Franciscans experience hunger, both teams will face a daunting challenge.  This pre-game match will prepare both teams for their rivalry in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl to be played at AT & T park in San Francisco on Saturday, December 31st.  For a second year in a row, St. Anthony's Executive Director Shari Roeseler and President of the Board of Directors Fr. John Hardin will join team captains from the Fighting Illini to face off against Glide Memorial Founder Reverend Cecil Williams and Founding President Janice Mirikitani and captains from the UCLA Bruins in the official coin toss to kick-off the 10th annual bowl game.

In 2010, proceeds from the Kraft Fight Hunger bowl provided 21 million meals to hungry families around the country.  "Our Huddle to Fight Hunger game plan is a winner on all fronts. We're going to deliver much needed meals for our neighbors in need," said Stephen Chriss, Senior Director at Kraft Foods North America.  St. Anthony's Executive Director Shari Roeseler summed up the pre-game activities by saying, "St. Anthony's is never on the sidelines when it comes to fighting hunger.  We're thrilled to be a beneficiary of the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl.  At a time when we see increasing numbers of people who simply cannot stretch their dollars to cover food costs, the support and contributions from the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl event is vitally important." 

Since its inception in 2002, the annual college football bowl game in San Francisco has generated more than $120 million in revenue for the City and County.  For more information about St. Anthony's, visit our website at www.stanthonysf.org.

SOURCE St. Anthony Foundation