LISLE, Ill., June 15, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Thanks to Nathan's Famous, the world famous hot dog company, representatives from the YMCA's Detroit Innovation Academy were celebrated for being leaders in the community and making active play possible by NASCAR Hall of Fame driver, "The King," Richard Petty on Sunday before the race at Michigan International Speedway. A photo accompanying this release is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=33780 .
As part of its Ready. Set. PLAY. initiative with national non-profit KaBOOM!, Petty surprised the Detroit Innovation academy with a $1,000 SpartanNash gift card towards the purchase of free groceries from VG's Grocery, courtesy of Nathan's Famous. SpartanNash operates 10 VG's stores in southeast Michigan.
Guests of the Detroit Innovation Academy were greeted at the race track by the Richard Petty Motorsports team and escorted to the garage area for a special tour. Earlier, Petty surprised the group's representative with the $1,000 gift card. Those in attendance stayed at the famed race track to watch Richard Petty Motorsports driver Aric Almirola race in Sunday's Quicken Loans 400.
The Ready . Set. PLAY . initiative is a partnership created in 2014 by Nathan's Famous with KaBOOM!. Ready . Set . PLAY . celebrates play and the local leaders who are making active play possible in communities across the nation.
"Nathan's Famous is all about fun, family and community," said Mike Paribello, Sr. Director of Marketing, Nathan's Famous. "We are really proud of our Ready. Set. PLAY. partnership with KaBOOM! and are thrilled to champion active play by donating $1,000 in free groceries to the YMCA's Detroit Innovation Academy."
"It's good to see our partner Nathan's Famous giving back to organizations that allow kids the opportunity to be active," said Petty. "Every child deserves the right to play and today's grant will help an organization like the Detroit Innovation Academy keep moving forward."
KaBOOM! worked with the YMCA's Detroit Innovation Academy for a playground build in 2012.
Nathan's Famous was founded almost 100 years ago in Coney Island, a popular New York City amusement and leisure destination. Nathan's Famous prides itself on its great quality, unmistakable taste, and a passion for family fun and community support.
Nathan's Famous is a licensed brand of Smithfield Foods. About Nathan's Famous Nathan's is a Russell 2000 Company that currently distributes its products in 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Cayman Islands and nine foreign countries through its restaurant system, foodservice sales programs and product licensing activities. Nathan's was ranked #55 on the Forbes list of the Best Small Companies in America and was listed as the Best Small Company in New York State in October 2013. Last year, over 500 million Nathan's Famous hot dogs were sold. For additional information about Nathan's please visit our website at www.nathansfamous.com .
About Smithfield Foods
Smithfield Foods is a $15 billion global food company and the world's largest pork processor and hog producer. In the United States, the company is also the leader in numerous packaged meats categories with popular brands including Smithfield®, Eckrich®, Farmland®, Armour®, Cook's®, John Morrell®, Gwaltney®, Nathan's Famous®, Kretschmar®, Margherita®, Curly's®, Carando® and Healthy Ones®. Smithfield Foods is committed to providing good food in a responsible way and maintains robust animal care, community involvement, employee safety, environmental and food safety and quality programs. For more information, visit www.smithfieldfoods.com and www.smithfieldcommitments.com .
About KaBOOM!
KaBOOM! is the national non-profit dedicated to giving all kids – particularly those growing up in poverty in America – the childhood they deserve filled with balanced and active play, so they can thrive. Since 1996, KaBOOM! has collaborated with partners to build, open or improve nearly 16,300 playgrounds, engaged more than one million volunteers and served 8.1 million kids. KaBOOM! creates great places to play, inspires communities to promote and support play, and works to drive the national discussion about the importance of play in fostering healthy and productive lives. To learn why #playmatters: visit kaboom.org or join the conversation at twitter.com/kaboom or facebook.com/kaboom .
About Richard Petty Motorsports
A performance and marketing driven company, Richard Petty Motorsports, co-owned by NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty and successful business entrepreneur Andrew Murstein, is one of the most recognized brands in all of motorsports. With a history of over 200 wins and business partnerships with national and global leaders, today the race operation fields two teams in competition in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Aric Almirola pilots the famous No. 43 Ford Fusion with primary partners Smithfield Foods, U.S. Air Force, STP, Strike Ten Entertainment and Fresh From Florida, and Sam Hornish, Jr. drives the No. 9 machine with primary partner Twisted Tea. In addition, Dakoda Armstrong wheels the No. 43 WinField Ford Mustang full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. The team is headquartered in Mooresville, N.C.
About SpartanNash SpartanNash (Nasdaq: SPTN ) is the largest food distributor serving U.S. military commissaries and exchanges in the world, in terms of revenue. The Company's core businesses include distributing food to military commissaries and exchanges and independent and corporate-owned retail stores located in 46 states and the District of Columbia, Europe, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Bahrain, Honduras and Egypt. SpartanNash currently operates 159 supermarkets in 10 states, primarily under the banners of Family Fare Supermarkets, VG's Grocery, D&W Fresh Markets, Family Fresh, No Frills, Bag 'n Save, Sun Mart and Econofoods.
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