WHO: Nancy S. Grasmick, State Superintendent of Schools
          Larry Adam, Founder, Harvest for the Hungry
          Yvonne Terry, General Manager, Maryland Food Bank
          Mathew Huddleston, Vice President and Manager, Morgan Stanley
          Brooke Hodges, Vice President, Bank of America
          Thomas Glessner, Vice President, Joe Corbi's Pizza

WHAT: In conjunction with The Maryland Food Bank, students throughout the state of Maryland will be ceremoniously recognized for their benevolence of food collection for the Harvest for the Hungry Campaign during the Kids Helping Kids Awards Ceremony.

This is the largest food drive in Maryland; students raise 470,000 pounds and $95,000 for food banks statewide. Join kids from across the state as they are honored for raising enough food to provide 600,000 meals for hungry children.

The Kids Helping Kids Campaign, now in its 18th year, is a three-week service learning project held during the fall. The campaign provides students with the opportunity to learn about hunger while collecting food for their local food bank. The food banks then distribute the food to children in need across the state.

Top 5 - Most Pounds Collected

South River Senior High School (Anne Arundel)      9,817 (& $7,798)
Youth's Benefit Elementary School (Harford)         5,979
Crofton Middle School (Anne Arundel)                  5,634 (& $9,200)
Indian Creek School (Anne Arundel)                     5,398 (& $150.00)
Lockerman Middle School (Caroline)                     5,344


Top 5 - Most Funds Collected

Leonardtown High School (St. Mary's County)        $52,809 (& 769 lbs.)
Davidsonville Elementary School (Anne Arundel)      $11,261.00 (& 3,700 lbs.)
Crofton Middle School (Anne Arundel)                   $9,200.00 (& 5,634 lbs.)
South River Senior High School (Anne Arundel)        $7,798 (& 9,817 lbs.)
Shipley's Choice Elementary School (Anne Arundel)  $4,698 (& 2,644 lbs.)

Maryland State Department of Education's Students Improving Maryland Awards, a program connected to Kids Helping Kids and funded by the Morgan Stanley Foundation, has identified 13 projects created by students in Maryland schools. These improve the quality of life for Maryland citizens by addressing hunger, homelessness, environment needs, health and safety, senior citizen needs, mentoring, and more. The following schools have been awarded $500 - $1,000 for their projects.

Broadneck Elementary School in Anne Arundel County
Raising Awareness and Funds to Fight Diabetes

Cecil Elementary School in Baltimore City
Cecil's Gardening Club and Community Garden

Centreville Elementary School in Queen Anne's County
Recycling for the Environment

Church Hill Elementary School in Queen Anne's County
Community Health Fair

Davidsonville Elementary School in Anne Arundel County
Gators Give Back - Boosting Hunger Awareness

Leonardtown High School in St. Mary's County
Surviving 9th Grade - Kids Helping Each Other Through Mentoring

Lime Kiln Middle School in Howard County
Legacy Learning Trail

Phelps Luck Elementary School in Howard County
Athletes for Achievement: A Student-to-Student Mentoring Program

Piney Ridge Elementary School in Carroll County Public Schools
Working for our Wetlands

Pocomoke Elementary School in Worcester County
Flower Pot Promise - A Project to Help Pay Utility Bills

Red House Run Elementary School in Baltimore County
Dirty to Clean - Transforming Our Community

Ridgely Elementary School in Caroline County
Bicycle Safety for Kids

Somerset Intermediate School in Somerset County
The Edible School Garden

WHEN: Tuesday, May 13, 2008      10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

WHERE: Maryland State Department of Education
             200 West Baltimore Street
             8th floor Reception Area
             Baltimore, Maryland 21201
             (410.767.0100)