CHICAGO, Nov. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Conagra
Brands, Inc. (NYSE: CAG) is joining Chance the Rapper, Grammy
award-winning musician and humanitarian, to provide students in
Chicago arts enrichment
opportunities through a new food packaging design mentorship
program. Created in collaboration with SocialWorks, the charitable
organization founded by Chance, the program helped fuel the launch
of the company's iconic Duncan Hines® Holiday Baking Kit Box which
features a festive illustration by Devin
Brown, a local student. The kit includes cake and brownie
mix, frostings and assorted holiday candy and is available now for
a limited time on Amazon.
"Conagra's ongoing commitment to community investment and
innovation in food enables us to continue supporting SocialWorks
and the Chicago community that's
home to our company's headquarters," said Lori Cerwin, senior director, Brand Design and
Innovation for Conagra Brands. "Our employees were inspired to
deliver on Conagra's promise to increase efforts that meaningfully
engage with diverse communities. Together, we used the development
of our Duncan Hines sweet treats
brand to give local youth a hands-on opportunity to develop their
professional skills and ultimately help people have some holiday
baking fun at home."
The mentorship program, activated through an open call for high
school students in SocialWorks' network to apply, allowed
Chicago youth to directly
participate in a six-week food packaging design project. Six
students were chosen to each be paired with a Conagra Brands
employee design mentor. Focused on food product packaging design,
students connected with their mentors virtually to be guided
through the in-depth process of developing creative assets to debut
the Duncan Hines Holiday Baking Kit Box. The rigorous process led
students to meet key artwork production deadlines, receive expert
feedback on their packaging designs and collaborate with Conagra's
brand design, marketing and culinary teams and other creative
professionals. The program culminated in the selection of one
student's illustration to be featured on final packaging.
"This opportunity with Conagra and SocialWorks opened my eyes to
other avenues that I could pursue with my art," said artist and
student, Devin Brown. "Overall the
experience helped enhance my creativity as an artist."
"SocialWorks loves to create collaborative opportunities for
students to design, learn, and share their voice. We're glad to do
it once again with Conagra, " said SocialWorks' Executive Director,
Justin Cunningham. "We encourage the
Chicago business community to
reach out and join local nonprofits in advocating for student
success and creating pathways to do so."
Conagra Brands began its partnership with Chance the Rapper in
2017 in response to his commitment to donate $1 million in funding to Chicago Public Schools and encouragement of
local companies to help the cause. The Conagra Brands Foundation
committed $300,000 to the
organization's New Chance Fund thorough a multi-year grant,
providing $100,000 each year to
Chicago Public Schools over the
course of three years. To date, the New Chance Fund has impacted 51
schools and more than 6,800 students. Additionally, Conagra has
helped SocialWorks to provide meals to Chicagoans experiencing food
insecurity, cook for its summer youth groups and raise funds for
other charitable initiatives as an inaugural gala sponsor.
Learn more about:
- Conagra Brands' community investment efforts at
www.conagrabrands.com/communitygiving.
- Duncan Hines at
www.duncanhines.com and Instagram @realduncanhines.
- SocialWorks at www.socialworkschi.org, Instagram:
@socialworks_chi and Twitter: @SocialWorks.
About Conagra Brands
Conagra Brands, Inc. (NYSE: CAG),
headquartered in Chicago, is one
of North America's leading branded
food companies. Guided by an entrepreneurial spirit, Conagra Brands
combines a rich heritage of making great food with a sharpened
focus on innovation. The company's portfolio is evolving to satisfy
people's changing food preferences. Conagra's iconic brands, such
as Birds Eye®, Marie
Callender's®, Banquet®, Healthy
Choice®, Slim Jim®, Reddi-wip®,
and Vlasic®, as well as emerging brands, including
Angie's® BOOMCHICKAPOP®, Duke's®,
Earth Balance®, Gardein®, and
Frontera®, offer choices for every occasion. For more
information, visit www.conagrabrands.com.
About Conagra Brands Foundation
Conagra Brands
Foundation believes everyone has a right to healthy and nutritious
food, knowing that food insecurity exists in every U.S. county. The
Foundation partners with exceptional national and local nonprofits
with high-impact programs located in the communities where we live
and work. By focusing our efforts within five areas: Direct Food
Access, Cooking Skills, Nutrition Education, Healthy and Active
Lifestyles and Urban Agriculture, we are able to be a leader in the
fight against food insecurity in North
America.
About SocialWorks
SocialWorks, founded by
Grammy-award-winning musician and humanitarian Chance the Rapper,
aims to empower the youth through the arts, education, and civic
engagement. Since 2016, SocialWorks has created 5 initiatives that
present youth the opportunity to learn and act on their passions.
SocialWorks' programming focuses on education, mental health,
homelessness, and performing and literary arts – directly affecting
thousands of youth yearly. Through the initiatives, OpenMike,
Warmest Winter, Kids of the Kingdom, The New Chance: Arts &
Literature Fund, and My State of
Mind, SocialWorks hopes to inspire creativity, build dreams, and
advocate for youth success in all its forms. For more information,
visit: https://www.socialworkschi.org.
For more information, please contact:
MEDIA:
Priscilla Zuchowski
312-549-5723
priscilla.zuchowski@conagra.com
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