BLOOMINGTON, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Schwan Food Company and Schwan’s Corporate Giving Foundation announced today a $1 million investment in University of Minnesota academics, nutritional programming and facilities, Gopher Athletics and leadership development programs for women. The donation is being made collectively over the next three years by The Schwan Food Company and Schwan’s Corporate Giving Foundation.
“We are excited and proud at The Schwan Food Company to deepen our relationship with the University of Minnesota,” said Dimitrios Smyrnios, CEO of The Schwan Food Company and chairman of Schwan’s Corporate Giving Foundation. “This investment reinforces our commitment to advancing healthier communities and promoting youth education and leadership development within our home state of Minnesota.”
The monetary commitment is largely philanthropic but also includes a sponsorship. The agreement includes support from Schwan’s Corporate Giving Foundation for undergraduate scholarships in the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, nutritional and food-safety research programs for students working toward their PhDs, a Nutrition Center within the athletic department’s Center of Excellence, Women Invested in Leadership and Learning, and a corporate sponsorship of men’s and women’s Gopher Athletics.
“We're very happy that The Schwan Food Company and the Foundation have chosen to support our undergraduate and graduate students in such a significant way,” said Brian Buhr, dean of the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences. “Targeting these scholarships toward students studying food science, food safety and engineering will help ensure Minnesota continues to play a leading role in an ample, sustainable, safe food supply.”
As a part of the commitment, Schwan’s Corporate Giving Foundation will support the University of Minnesota athletic department’s efforts to build a Nutrition Center within its new Center of Excellence. A ground-breaking is slated for later this year.
“We are deeply grateful for The Schwan Food Company and the Foundation for the generous investment in support of Gopher Athletics and our 725 student athletes,” said Beth Goetz, University of Minnesota interim athletics director. “The foundation’s commitment to our Nutrition Center and our Women Invested in Leadership and Learning (W.I.L.L.) program will prepare generations of young women and men for a lifetime of leadership and healthy living. We are fortunate to have great partners like The Schwan Food Company that care deeply about our University and the state of Minnesota.”
About The Schwan Food Company
The Schwan Food Company is a
privately held business that manufactures and markets fine frozen foods
through home-delivery, retail-grocery and food-service channels. Its
many popular brands include Red Baron®, Tony’s®, Bon
Appétit® and Freschetta® pizza, Mrs. Smith’s® and Edwards®
desserts, Pagoda® snacks and appetizers, and Schwan’s®
fine frozen foods. Based in Minnesota for 63 years, the company's
subsidiaries employ 14,000 people in the United States. To learn more
about Schwan, visit us at www.theschwanfoodcompany.com.
About Schwan’s Corporate Giving Foundation
Schwan’s
Corporate Giving Foundation, a private charitable organization, was
established in 2000 and is made possible by support from The Schwan Food
Company. The foundation strives to improve the quality of life in
communities where Schwan employees live and work. It focuses on
exceptional efforts to end hunger, promote youth education and
leadership development, and provide essential services that advance
healthier communities.
About the University of Minnesota
Founded in 1851, the
University of Minnesota is ranked among the nation’s top public research
universities. As a land-grant institution, the U of M is committed to
engaging Minnesota, national and global communities to advance
interdisciplinary knowledge; enhance students’ academic, civic, career,
social and personal development; and apply intellectual and human
capital to serve the public good.
