NEW ALBANY, Ohio – Bob Evans Farms, Inc. (NASDAQ: BOBE), is proud to announce its commitment to support America’s active duty, veterans, and their families with the launch of its “Our Farm Salutes” campaign. As part of the program, Bob Evans Farms has painted its iconic barn purple, a color that represents every branch of service, and is donating $200,000 as well as thousands of meals to support the Gary Sinise Foundation’s (GSF) Serving Heroes program, an initiative that provides meals to active duty, veterans, and their families as a way of showing gratitude for their service and sacrifice.
“Supporting the men and women that serve our country has always been a part of the culture at Bob Evans Farms, and we could not be more excited to further our commitment of showing gratitude by encouraging others to join us as we salute all of those that unselfishly serve us,” said Bob Evans Farms, Inc. President and CEO Saed Mohseni. “In painting the Bob Evans barn purple and partnering with the Gary Sinise Foundation in support of their Serving Heroes program, we are making it known that ‘Our Farm Salutes’ all of America’s active duty, veterans, and their families.”
As part of the “Our Farms Salutes” campaign, Bob Evans Farms is urging all Americans to join Bob Evans Farms in going purple this summer to show gratitude to those that serve. By visiting OurFarmSalutes.com, the public can share amessage of support or make a donation to help support the Gary Sinise Foundation’s Serving Heroes program.
Throughout 2016, in partnership with the Gary Sinise Foundation and its Serving Heroes program, Bob Evans Farms, Inc. will serve over 6,000 meals to military heroes and their families at military bases, USO centers and VAs across the country at Serving Heroes events.
In addition, Bob Evans will share a series of broadcast television and radio public service announcements featuring Gary Sinise in support of the Foundation’s Serving Heroes program.
Designed by ‘The Barn Artist,’ Scott Hagan and Columbus artist David Browning, the newly painted Bob Evans barn features a mural honoring current and past members of the Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard and the Merchant Marines. The painting took a total of 11 days, 176 man-hours and 30 gallons of paint to complete and will remain on the building through Veteran’s Day
“A hearty meal and time spent with family around a dinner table is often the thing service members miss most during tours of duty,” said Gary Sinise, founder of the Gary Sinise Foundation. "The generous contribution made by Bob Evans Farms to our Serving Heroesprogram will help us to feed our nation’s service men and women and their families, in mind, body and soul; and the painted purple barn stands as a beacon of honor to those who protect our freedoms.”
For more information on the “Our Farm Salutes” campaign, look for the purple packaging on Bob Evans packaged foods products in your localgrocery store, or please visit www.OurFarmSalutes.com.
About Bob Evans Farms, Inc.
Bob Evans Farms, Inc. owns and operates full-service restaurants under the Bob Evans Restaurants brand name. At the end of the third fiscal quarter (January 22, 2016), Bob Evans Restaurants owned and operated 548 family restaurants in 18 states, primarily in the Midwest, mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions of the United States. Bob Evans Farms, Inc., through its BEF Foods segment, is also a leading producer and distributor of refrigerated side dishes, pork sausage and a variety of refrigerated and frozen convenience food items under the Bob Evans and Owens brand names. For more informationabout Bob Evans Farms, Inc., visit www.bobevans.com.
About the Gary Sinise Foundation:
Actor/humanitarian Gary Sinise has been actively and tirelessly supporting the troops for over thirty years. Among his numerous film and television roles, it was his portrayal of Lt. Dan Taylor in the landmark film Forrest Gump which formed an enduring connection with servicemen and women throughout the military community. Over the years, Sinise participated in handshake tours, hospital visits, invited veterans to come for free performances at his theater in Chicago, and much more. In June 2011, to expand upon his individual efforts, Sinise established the Gary Sinise Foundation.
The Gary Sinise Foundation honors America’s defenders, veterans, first responders, their families and those in need. Through its R.I.S.E. (Restoring Independence Supporting Empowerment) program, speciallyadapted smart homes are being constructed for severely wounded veterans nationwide. Each one-of-a-kind home is customized to ease the everyday burdens of a wounded hero, their family and caregivers. Other programs include Serving Heroes, Relief & Resiliency Outreach, Invincible Spirit Festivals, the Lt. Dan Band, Arts & Entertainment Outreach, and First Responders Outreach. Its latest program, Soaring Valor, is sending WWII veterans to The National WWII Museum and documenting their first-hand accounts of the war. Over the years, the Foundation has formed numerous corporate partnerships which support many of the Foundation’s programs. For more information, please visit GarySiniseFoundation.org.
Source: Bob Evans Farms, Inc.
