FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Julie W. Henderson, VP Communications
May 5, 2003
Frozen Food Industry Supports Education
of Fifty Students
in Food-Related Programs
HARRISBURG, PA–Holding to the belief that an industry
is only as strong as the young people it attracts and develops, the
frozen food industry built on its commitment to its future leaders by
providing aid this year to 21 universities and colleges for 50 students
preparing for careers in the food industry. Marking its 37th
year, the Distinguished Order of Zerocrats completed its 2002 fundraising
drive for the Frozen Food Industry Memorial Scholarship Foundation reporting
contributions of $72,550. Since
the fund was established in 1966, contributions have totaled $874,585.
Success of the scholarship program is attributed to two major factors–strong
across-the-board support by all segments of the industry including suppliers,
plus a high renewal rate. This is reflected in the 94.4% of 2001 contributors
who supported the program again in 2002, Robert E. Rich, Jr., current
chairman of the Zerocrat Scholarship Committee points out.
The program’s growth can be effectively measured by looking back
to its first 25 years ending in 1990 when solicitations, confined solely
to Zerocrats, produced a total of $73,375 in funding. In 1991 solicitations
were expanded to the industry as a whole. As a result, contributions
soared–totaling $801,210 through the 12 years ending in 2002.
The Distinguished Order of Zerocrats was formed in 1954 to honor top
officials of the industry and allied industry associations, as well
as other individuals who have contributed significantly to the advancement
of the frozen food industry. In 1965, a Scholarship Committee was formed
to support the education of future industry leaders.
At its inception, the Scholarship Committee solicited funds solely
from Zerocrat members. Upon the 1990 appointment of Bob Rich, Sr. as
committee chairman, a fundamental change was made in the way funds were
solicited. Bob’s first recommendation was to solicit contributions
from the entire industry, dramatically increasing funding.
Scholarship contributions for 2002 were solicited under the direction
of Bob Rich, Jr. current chairman of the Zerocrat Scholarship Committee.
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