Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2004. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
PRNewswire - November 1, 2004
Land O'Lakes International Development Division and Hoops4Africa, a D.C.- based non-profit corporation, are fund-raising to support a campaign to educate at least 2 million people in Africa about preventing HIV/AIDS, and address the nutritional needs of people who already have the disease -- many of whom require as much as twice the amount of some nutrients to combat its ravaging effects.
"Land O'Lakes' partnership with Hoops4Africa is a natural fit," said Tom Verdoorn, Vice President of International Operations and Dairy Proteins for Land O'Lakes. "Hoops4Africa will mobilize basketball stars to bring renewed attention to HIV and AIDS in Africa, while Land O'Lakes will bring decades of experience in getting nutrition to people already afflicted with the disease."
"I'm proud that Land O'Lakes has chosen to partner with Hoops4Africa in this critically needed effort," said Stephan Bekale, a Washington-area resident and President and CEO of Hoops4Africa. "This one-of-a-kind alliance represents a new opportunity in halting the advance of the terrible AIDS pandemic in Africa, and I'm looking forward to putting our combined strengths to work for this worthwhile cause."
Land O'Lakes and Hoops4Africa held a kick-off wine-tasting and fundraising event Thursday evening at The Sports Club/LA in Washington, D.C. Among those in attendance and lending their support were former Washington Wizards General Manager Bob Ferry, top NBA players, and other notable figures. In addition to Land O'Lakes, other sponsors of the event included HomeWorks Remodeling Associates and Verizon Communications.
The active members of Hoops4Africa include top NBA players in the United States who are committed to curbing Africa's HIV/AIDS pandemic and targeting awareness among sports-minded youth and adults in Africa who would respond to a message delivered by well-known basketball professionals.
Land O'Lakes established its International Development Division in 1981 and is currently implementing food industry development projects in 33 countries, eleven of which are in Africa. In Kenya, the proposed site of the partnership's initial outreach effort, Land O'Lakes has been successfully working to improve the performance of the dairy industry for the past four years. Land O'Lakes also has an excellent network of contacts within the private food-industry sector, including government officials in industry, education and health, sports clubs and emerging Kenyan men's and women's semi-professional basketball teams.
Through efforts similar to the well-known "Got Milk" campaign sponsored by U.S. dairy associations, Land O'Lakes and Hoops4Africa will partner with the local Kenyan private sector to promote HIV/AIDS risk awareness and the need for good nutrition through media and other promotions. The visits of American NBA and WNBA players will be showcased on radio, television, sports events and personal visitations. The first such visit, planned for September 2005, will involve a delegation of 13 NBA players to Kenya.
Hoops4Africa ( http://www.hoops4africa.org ) was formed by Stephan Bekale, an immigrant from Gabon and former NCAA basketball player who started the organization because he lost both parents to AIDS. Hoops4Africa has received support from more than 200 NBA and WNBA players, a bipartisan group of Members of Congress, and Washington-area businesses including the MCI Center, Washington Sports Entertainment, Verizon Communications, Alexander Key Investments, and HomeWorks Remodeling Associates.
Land O'Lakes, Inc. ( http://www.landolakesinc.com ) is a national farmer-owned food and agricultural cooperative with annual sales of more than $6 billion. Land O'Lakes does business in all 50 states and more than 50 countries, and provides agricultural training and technical assistance in more than 30 developing nations. It is a leading marketer of a full line of dairy-based consumer, foodservice and food ingredient products across the United States; serves its international customers with a variety of food and animal feed ingredients; and provides farmers and ranchers with an extensive line of agricultural supplies (feed, seed, crop nutrients and crop protection products) and services.
SOURCE Land O'Lakes
Web Site: http://www.landolakesinc.com
http://www.hoops4africa.org
041101
PR041108
Copyright © 2004 - PRNewswire. All rights reserved. Reproduced with permission. Reproduction of this article (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through PRNewswire, Permissions, 810 Seventh Ave., 32nd Floor, New York, NY 10019 http://www.prnewswire.com.
AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted funding from Boehringer Ingelheim, Bridgestone/Firestone Charitable Trust, Elton John AIDS Foundation UK, the National Library of Medicine, AIDS Walk of Orange County, and donations from users like you.
AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.
Copyright ©1980, 2004. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content. .