MOBILE, Ala. (September 12, 2007) -- Officials announced on Wednesday that Food World has renewed its sponsorship agreement with the Senior Bowl, which will include the continuation of their highly successful Charitable Partnership that has donated over $4.2 million to Gulf Coast charities.

In addition to the Charitable Partnership, Food World will also maintain its role as the title sponsor of the popular Food World Senior Bowl Charity Run, set for November 3 in downtown Mobile, and several other special events held during the year.

They include the Food World Senior Bowl Sailing Regatta, the Food World Fan Frenzy held the Friday afternoon prior to the Senior Bowl football game, and the Food World Tailgate Party at Ladd-Peebles Stadium on game day.

Food World's Melissa Morgan (far left) and Senior Bowl Game Captain Clifton Morrissette (far right) visit with students at the Mobile Pre-School for the Sensory Impaired during the annual Food World Senior Bowl Charity Caravan held May 25.  The Pre-School was one of 18 Gulf Coast charities that received the $208,000 in proceeds raised by last November's Charity Run.

"Supporting our local communities has always been a major part of the Bruno’s corporate mission,” said Bruno’s vice president of marketing David Gagne. “Now in its seventh year, the Food World - Senior Bowl partnership has been able to make a real difference in the Gulf Coast area by donating to local charities, and these donations would not be possible without our loyal customers in this community and the tremendous support we receive from our vendors."

One of the South’s premier road races now in its 20th year, the Food World Senior Bowl Charity Run features over 5,000 runners each year and has helped raise millions for Gulf Coast charities. The event is open to runners of all ages and fitness levels, and features 10K, 5K and One-Mile Fun Run events.

The Food World Fan Frenzy is held in conjunction with the annual Senior Bowl Meet The Players event, as over 10,000 fans fill the Mobile Convention Center to enjoy food, interactives and the opportunity to meet America’s best senior collegiate football stars and top NFL draft prospects.

The Food World Tailgate Party ranks as one of America’s largest free tailgate parties, as over 3,500 fans who purchase Senior Bowl game tickets at area Food World stores are treated to free food and entertainment for three hours prior to kickoff.

The Food World - Senior Bowl Charitable Partnership’s mission is to raise funds for charities whose services, activities or programs benefit youth and youth-related activities and programs along the Gulf Coast. Donations made in 2007 have pushed the total generated for charity by the partnership to over $4.2 million.

“We are very pleased that the Food World - Senior Bowl Charitable Partnership will continue to support youth activities and services throughout the Gulf Coast,” said Senior Bowl president Steve Hale. “It is a pleasure to be associated with Food World, a company that also feels so strongly about giving back to the communities in which they do business.”

Left to right: Mobile Arts and Sports Association Chairman Vic Lott, American Red Cross Alabama Gulf Coast Chapter chairperson Virginia Liles, Bruno's Vice President Scott North and Alabama Governor Bob Riley pose with a check which represents the one-million dollar donation made by the Food World-Senior Bowl Charitable Partnership and the BI-LO/Bruno's Corporation to the Red Cross for Hurricane Katrina relief.

Highlights of the Charitable Partnership’s 2007 donations include the fulfillment of a five-year, $250,000 pledge to the USA Children’s and Women’s Hospital. Over $500,000 in donations have now been made to the hospital by the Partnership in recent years which have used for various projects at the facility.

The recent donations were used to help fund the much-needed renovation of the hospital’s lobby, making it more user friendly and creating a much more pleasant environment for patients and their families.

In addition to USA Children’s and Women’s Hospital, 15 other charitable agencies along the Gulf Coast have received proceeds from the Partnership in 2007 including major donations which were made to Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital in Pensacola, Fla., Thomas Hospital in Fairhope and Mercy Medical in Daphne.

Funds donated to Sacred Heart, which brought the total given to that hospital by the Partnership since 2002 to over $220,000, have been used to purchase a new neonatal intensive care ambulance which is especially equipped for transport and treatment of critically ill and injured infants and children.

Donations made to Thomas Hospital are being used for a new childhood obesity awareness and prevention program in Baldwin County entitled ShapeDown,” while the monies donated to Mercy Medical have been designated for its Guardian Angel Program, the fundraising program supporting the costs of the extensive pediatric home care services provided by Mercy Medical.

Other Gulf Coast charitable agencies receiving funds from the Partnership this year include the Mobile County Special Olympics, the Drug Education Council, Alabama Pre-School for the Sensory Impaired, the Mobile Association for Retarded Citizens, the Child Advocacy Center, the Mobile Association for the Blind, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the Mobile Symphony, Ballet and Opera, the Mobile YMCA and the Pensacola Boys and Girls Clubs.

Food World is owned and operated by Bruno’s Supermarkets, LLC, with headquarters in Birmingham, Ala. Currently serving major markets in Alabama and the panhandle of Florida, such as Birmingham, Montgomery, Mobile and Pensacola, Bruno’s operates 67 stores under the Bruno’s Food World and Food Max banners, and the company employs approximately 5,100 people.

Left to right: Lindsey Hutchisson of the Mobile Association for Retarded Citizens, Senior Bowl Distribution Committee member Randy Delchamps, Debra Garlo of the Special Olympics, Pay Guyton of the Child Advocacy Center, the Mobile Association for the Blind's Jim Bullock, Virginia Guy of the Drug Education Council and Food World District Manager David Powell pose with a check representing the $208,000 which was donated to 18 different charities along the Gulf Coast from proceeds generated by the 18th annual Food World Senior Bowl Charity Run held last November. To date, over $3 million has been donated to area charities by the event.