Hershey Pledges $500,000 to Scholarship Program

FAIRFAX, Va. -- Hershey Foods Corp. pledged $500,000 to the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) to establish the UNCF/Hershey Foods Scholarship. The fund will benefit minority students from the Harrisburg, Lancaster and Lebanon, Pa., school districts. In 2005, Hershey Foods will contribute $100,000 as part of a five-year, $500,000 commitment to UNCF.

"Hershey Foods Corp. is proud to support the United Negro College Fund and its longstanding mission of promoting academic excellence," said Richard H. Lenny, chairman, president and CEO of Hershey Foods. "This underscores our commitment to the community and our support of higher education. We're pleased to provide financial assistance to help students achieve their educational and career goals."

UNCF president and CEO Dr. Michael L. Lomax considers Hershey Foods' support "an exceptional display of social responsibility that will hopefully influence other businesses to invest in higher education." Both Hershey Foods and UNCF are optimistic about the partnership and expanding the UNCF's presence in Pennsylvania.

The Hershey Foods grant will be available in fall of 2005 for Pennsylvania residents attending one of UNCF's 38 member colleges, or any Pennsylvania state institution. Hershey Foods anticipates the contribution will provide scholarships to approximately 20 students, with awards ranging up to $5,000 each. This program will afford representatives of selected school districts an opportunity to work with UNCF on establishing community advisory committees to review and recommend scholarship recipients.

In other company news, David Onorato, vice president of national convenience store sales for Hershey, was presented with the Network of Executive Women’s third annual Hedy Halpert Diversity Awareness Award for his leadership in the development of diverse work teams in the consumer packaged goods industry.
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