Celebrities Kick Off Wonderful Halos and Feeding America Partnership

Actress Jennie Garth and TV personality and actor Mario Lopez officially kicked off a partnership between Wonderful Halos mandarins and Feeding America. Wonderful Halos – the sweet, easy to peel and seedless mandarins – is taking its Pure Goodness message to schools across America by providing nutritious food to children through the Feeding America BackPack program. Lopez, the host of EXTRA and The X Factor, and Garth – one of the stars of the new ABC Family comedy series “Mystery Girl,” author of her upcoming memoir, “Deep Thoughts From a Hollywood Blonde,” (to be released on March 4) and best known for her role as Kelly Taylor on the TV series “90210” – and family joined volunteers at the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank to pack Halos and other meals for students in the Los Angeles and Compton Unified School Districts. The event kicks off a larger partnership between Wonderful Halos and Feeding America that will provide more than 1.3 million meals to people in need. “My family and I love that Wonderful Halos is spreading pure goodness to children across the country by providing them with the fresh produce they need,” said Jennie Garth. “Our family enjoys Halos together, so it makes sense for us to join Wonderful Halos to help eliminate the problem of hunger in our own backyards.” Feeding America is the nation’s largest organization dedicated to fighting domestic hunger through a network of food banks. More than 18 million children qualify for free or reduced price meals through the National School Lunch Program. The Feeding America BackPack Program supplies children the healthy food they need to get them through the weekend. Bags of food are assembled at more than 150 local food banks and distributed to nearly 230,000 children every year. “As a dad with young kids, I know how important it is for children to eat well,” said Mario Lopez. “That’s why I’m committed to working together with Halos mandarins to make sure families in need can get fresh, nutritious fruit to stay strong and healthy.” Additionally, celebrities and personalities such as dancing pro Cheryl Burke with "Dancing with the Stars," celebrity fitness instructor Tracy Anderson, television personality and actress Kristin Cavallari, and actor Austin Basis of the CW’s “Beauty and the Beast” among others, are adding to the pure goodness by tapping into their creative side to design backpacks for Feeding America. The backpacks will be used to raise additional funds for the program. “Food banks around the country are constantly in need of healthy fresh fruit,” said Leah Ray, vice president of corporate partnerships, Feeding America. “Fruit, such as mandarin oranges, are an extremely important part of everyone’s daily lives and we’re thankful to partner with Wonderful Halos to provide nutritious food to children and their families.” Wonderful Halos mandarins are in the produce aisles of grocery, mass and club stores now through March (California mandarin season). They are available in 3- and 5-lb. bags and 5-lb. boxes. “Wonderful Halos is committed to delivering pure goodness to parents and children with a sweet, healthy snack option they can enjoy together,” said Marc Seguin, vice president of global marketing, Wonderful Halos. “Feeding America is the perfect partner for us, as they are an incredible ally for combatting hunger and getting fresh fruit to those most in need.”