United Way of America for the third consecutive year is honoring Kellogg with a Spirit of America Summit Award, one of its most prestigious accolades.

This year, we're receiving the Summit Award for Corporate Philanthropy, recognizing our overall, strategic corporate contributions including financial giving, expertise and in-kind gifts. Last year, we were honored in the Corporate Community Investment category and in 2006 the Employee Community Investment category.

"This Summit Award for Corporate Philanthropy recognizes the generosity of Kellogg people and their passion to be part of building stronger communities," says President and CEO David Mackay. "We are proud of our partnership with United Way as we work together to address the most important issues in our communities."

Celeste Clark, senior vice president, Global Nutrition and Corporate Affairs, will accept the award on Kellogg's behalf tonight at United Way of America's 2008 Community Leaders Conference in Baltimore. Celeste served as executive sponsor of our company's 2007 United Way fund-raising campaign, during which Kellogg pledged $4.7 million in contributions that are now benefiting 26 communities across the United States.

The total, which includes the Kellogg's Corporate Citizenship Fund's dollar-for-dollar match of employee and retiree pledges, represented a significant 6 percent increase over our 2006 contribution.

Additionally, more than 1,500 Kellogg volunteers - a remarkable 25 percent increase over the previous year - participated in our 2007 United Way Days of Caring service projects, doing everything from distributing fresh food for the hungry to collecting school supplies for underserved children to building homes.

"Kellogg is a champion for communities in every sense, from its long-time support of United Way to its commitment to volunteerism and service projects to significant food donations," says United Way of America President and CEO Brian A. Gallagher. "United Way is proud to recognize such a socially responsible company."

Overall in 2007, Kellogg donated more than $8 million in cash and $25 million in product to support various philanthropic partnerships. Some of our other financial partners of Kellogg include YMCA of the USA, The Global FoodBanking Network, Action for Healthy Kids and the NAACP.

In addition, we donate nearly $25 million in product to the America’s Second Harvest food bank network each year. Plus, our employees and retirees lend their thought leadership as volunteers for an array of nonprofit organizations in Kellogg communities throughout the U.S.

Of course, all of Kellogg’s efforts to support United Way and all our philanthropic partners are consistent with our company’s long history of helping people in the communities in which we work and live.

United Way of America is an association of independent, local organizations that work to meet community needs, primarily by raising money on behalf of health and human services programs. Visit United Way.org to learn more about how United Way is strengthening communities across the United States.

Campaign leaders from Kellogg's U.S. locations recently gathered to begin planning for our company's upcoming 2008 United Way fund-raising campaign. Brad Davidson, president, U.S. Snacks, will serve as executive sponsor of this year's efforts, through which we hope to exceed last year's total of $4.7 million and 1,500-plus volunteers. Watch Kellogg Today in the coming months for much more information about our '08 campaign and how you can make a difference.