Mars North America Deploys 12,000 Associates to Volunteer In Communities Across North America, June 2-6

During the week of June 2-6, Mars North America will encourage its 12,000 associates at 52 factory, office and retail sites across North America to take time during the work day to go out into their local communities and volunteer to make a positive difference.

This business-wide initiative will take place coast-to-coast in cities large and small, ranging from the metro centers of New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles to Waco, Texas, North Sioux City, South Dakota and Nashville, Tennessee. Volunteer efforts will focus primarily on youth enrichment, hunger relief, animal welfare and the environment -- four areas that reflect the company's leadership in confectionery, food and petcare products and its growing health and nutrition business.

The Mars Volunteer Program (MVP) was inspired by the company's commitment to living its five principles: quality, responsibility, mutuality, efficiency and freedom. This is the second year Mars North America has embarked on a company-wide volunteer push, extending the initiative from one day to a full work week to accommodate the enthusiastic response of its workforce.

"Associate engagement in MVP Week has sparked year-long volunteer activities by groups of associates and individual sites that 'adopt' a charity or cause and contribute to it year 'round," said Alice Nathanson, Director, Corporate Communications for Mars North America. "Mars North America is unique -- our principles aren't something that are written down and forgotten, they are a part of the fabric of how we live and work every day."

Throughout the week, Mars associates will refurbish animal shelters in Franklin, Tennessee and repair and ready summer campgrounds in Hackettstown, NJ. In Henderson, Nevada, associates will be packing food bags for homeless and at-risk elementary school children and in Chicago, associates will conduct a beach clean-up along the shores of Lake Michigan. Especially evident this year is the focus on stocking food pantries with foods and other donations. "It is fair to say that nearly all of our 52 sites are supplementing their hands-on volunteer activities with week-long food and clothing drives to meet the growing needs of local food pantries," noted Nathanson.

About Mars, Incorporated

Mars, Incorporated, is a privately-held company that produces some of the world's leading confectionery, food, petcare, beverage, and health & nutrition products, and operates in more than 65 countries. Headquartered in McLean, Virginia, Mars, Incorporated employs more than 12,000 associates in the United States and 43,000 associates worldwide with 52 sites in the U.S. and more than 100 manufacturing facilities globally. The company's global sales exceed $21 billion annually.