INDIANAPOLIS (Feb. 10, 2016) – Elanco Animal Health, a division of Eli Lilly and Company, stepped up their efforts to end world hunger by pledging to match money raised from the Indiana FFA Read to Feed project, up to $20,000. The project officially kicks-off on Feb. 22, 2016 and runs through April 15, 2016.
The Indiana FFA Read to Feed project is organized like a read-a-thon. FFA chapters will partner with local third and fourth grade classrooms, and each classroom will have a sponsor(s). Based on the number of minutes read, those sponsor(s) will make a donation to Heifer International, a charitable organization working to end hunger and poverty around the world by providing livestock and training to struggling communities.
“With millions of people living in poverty globally, building a food-secure world is one of the greatest issues of our time,” said Noel S. Paul, Global Leader of Elanco Corporate Responsibility. “Initiatives like Read to Feed are a creative way to bring communities together to solve bigger issues, and Elanco is proud to partner with Indiana FFA in this endeavor to support Heifer International.”
The idea behind partnering with Elanco and Heifer International for the Indiana FFA Read to Feed project stemmed from the opportunity to work with the Indiana Lieutenant Governor Sue Ellspermann, who serves as Indiana’s Secretary of Agriculture.
“Each year, I am so energized and impressed by our Indiana FFA state officers who I have the pleasure to partner with on service projects that will have an impact on our communities as well as teach the officers vital skills in planning, organizing and implementing a large scale initiative,” said Ellspermann. “I commend the team’s project that brings together schools and companies like Elanco to fight poverty and literacy on an international scale.”
“All of the money raised will go towards providing an impoverished family with livestock and training to enhance their quality of life. In this way, Indiana FFA is amplifying its impact by encouraging reading at home while helping to feed seven billion people worldwide,” said Brett Roberts, the Indiana FFA State Northern Region Vice President.
For more information, please visit the Indiana FFA Read to Feed project webpage, or follow the conversation on Twitter @IndianaFFA.
