The Harrington Family Foundation

LANSING, Mich. - The Food Bank Council of Michigan announced today that Detroit Lions quarterback Joey Harrington has joined their Harvest Gathering team as honorary chair of the 15th Annual Michigan Harvest Gathering campaign. The Michigan Harvest Gathering raises food and funds to help feed our state's hungry families.

"No Michigan child or family should go without food," said Harrington, who has volunteered his time at food distribution centers. "I'm looking forward to helping the Harvest Gathering campaign and Michigan's food banks achieve their 2005 goal to collect 500,000 pounds of food and raise $350,000 by Thanksgiving." he added.

"My desire is to raise awareness of hunger and enlist businesses and individuals to help us care for our hungry neighbors. The Michigan Harvest Gathering campaign is the centerpiece of the Food Bank Council's mission to nourish the future with food today," added Harrington, who will appear on Harvest Gathering billboards and other promotions throughout our state.

Since its inception in 1991, Michigan Harvest Gathering has raised more than $4 million and collected 6 million pounds of food for hungry families throughout Michigan from corporations, local businesses, farmers and individuals. The annual campaign has become a major source of food and funds for Michigan's regional food banks serving all of Michigan's 83 counties.

The 2005 campaign officially kicks off in mid-September and runs through Thanksgiving. This years theme will be "Thanks for Giving" and will evoke the traditional hallmarks of Thanksgiving-food, family and a special Michigan tradition, a home football game with the Detroit Lions. Except for a few years during World War II, the Detroit Lions have played a home game every Thanksgiving since 1934.

For more information about the Michigan Harvest Gathering campaign, visit www.FeedMichigan.org or call Jane Marshall at (517) 485-1202.